The latest release from Sha-Fu delivers a massively progressive and deep-toned heavy doom rock tonality that actually blends a multitude of other rock genres in the mix throughout this 8-minute soiree of a track and through it all, you go through these amazing sections that are intense, trudging, melodic, calm, and sonically driving all at the same time.
"Gaea" is something of a heavy rock instrumental masterpiece or opus if you will as the track brings with it a lot of surprises around the corners and a lot of attention to detail but still carries with it this particular kind of character that sticks throughout the track.
Not only do I love the riffs on this track, but I also love the actual guitar tone itself because it lends a hand to the performance. What I mean is, a lot of the stuff makes you think of late 90s or early 2000s underground metal, grunge, and alternative rock.
The whole thing has personality to it, and it bears that deepening Dune grunge Style which I absolutely adore because it comes through with an awesome edginess to it.
A combination of thick and punchy drudgery and a vast melodic undertone creates this intense and forward-flowing sort of atmosphere that has a way of wrapping itself around you and keeping you right where it wants to.
You can hear those classic heavy band influences throughout this track but it's awesome because it's separated into all these different parts. Again, this is a little over 8 minutes, so it goes through several different parts and sections that are all put together to create one piece of music.
In that sense, it's almost like a classical piece that goes through different parts and even emotions.
There's something about this that serves as an escape because it does sort of pull you away from whatever you're doing and whatever you are and put you in this whole different space and I dig that too because it's almost like reading a good book where it gives you a vibe and a feel, a platform, and a set of textures with a sort of gritty undertone or underbelly but it also leaves a lot of space for your imagination so while you're listening to the track, all kinds of things pop into your head.
It leaves space for your mind to travel along with it so each individual that listens to the song will have a different reaction to it in terms of where their own brain takes them.
For example, when I listen to it during certain parts I thought of different kinds of scenarios and situations in my head while at other times memories of my own popped in there.
I feel like something like that's incredibly connective.
This was a really brilliant track because it does have a classic Progressive metal and heavy rock tonality to it that is completely nailed aesthetically but still leaves all those great surprises at the same time.
Such deepening changes call for a band that is paying attention to what's going to be coming next especially with an 8-minute track.
What blows my mind is how a band actually puts this together. It's such a musical journey that how do you piece this gigantic piece of music together so that it makes sense the way that it does here?
That's a little too much for me to even wrap my brain around at the moment.
Either way, this is an incredible track that is completely immersive and expansive while remaining deafeningly heavy and satiating to anyone who loves good, well-thought-out, and driving heavy rock music.
Take a deep dive into this track and see how it affects you.
I would suggest listening to this one with headphones on so you can really soak in all the stuff that's happening and remember where you heard it first.
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