Sifting through the raw and unadulterated soundscape of Albuquerque’s music scene, Distances have etched their narrative in the annals of post-metal with a contemplative finesse and an unyielding grip on the real. The trio’s recent offering, “Abstruse,” is a cerebral voyage through life’s inherent contradictions and the murky waters of introspection. Today, in a gesture of homage and respectful acknowledgment, we present a special commentary on each track from this album, articulated with eloquent insight issued by the band.
In “Abstruse,” every track is a chapter, a story whispered against the backdrop of heavy, atmospheric riffs. “It’s cliche at this point. In mid-2020 the alarm sounded and everything changed,” reflects the band on the genesis of their pandemic record, a creation bridged over digital chasms and a testament to their indomitable spirit to keep the creative train steaming ahead, despite the disembodied process that the pandemic imposed.
The album isn’t just a collection of songs; it’s a mirror held up to society’s cyclical nature, as in “Full Circle,” where progress is painted as a veneer over a reality that circles back to its starting point. “Empty Prose” challenges the listener to ponder the weight of legacy in an era where significance often feels diluted to near oblivion.
Their tracks like “Grief Personified” and “Terra Infirma” delve into the heart of human experience, from the dance with grief to the Sisyphean struggle against the cycles of life. And yet, it’s not all weighted in existential gloom. “Ceaseless Lantern” critiques the curated perfection of life on social media, a sardonic nod to the ‘success’ we’re spoon-fed daily.
“Poison Dowry” exposes the dualities of parenthood with a brutal honesty, acknowledging the paradoxical desire to shield our children from pain while recognizing the inevitability of their own struggles and the haunting fear of passing down our darkest inheritances.
Distances’ approach is a potent mix of post-metal and introspection, as stated in our December exposé. This isn’t a band that conforms to expectations; instead, they tear them apart with a sound that resonates with the likes of Gojira and ISIS, yet distinct in its introspective depth. Their music, like their commentary, is profound and timely, addressing the socio-political climate and the generational divide deepened by a global pandemic.
“Abstruse” is an emotional expedition that scales melancholic valleys and ascends into crushing sonic peaks.
As a band once shadowed by a modest audience, their colossal sound and incisive themes deserve the daylight.
Enter the journey of “Abstruse,” a raw testament to the resilience of creation in isolation, the critique of our cyclical follies, and an exploration of the legacies we leave behind, willingly or otherwise.
‘Abstruse’ is looking at contradictions with a critical eye, seeing them within ourselves, and struggling to navigate the mire.
OPEN POSITION
Grief personified comes to dance, and is felt in different ways: remembering loved ones now gone, grieving our loss of self-respect, or just some rosy retrospection and nostalgia fallacy.
TERRA INFIRMA
Ash falls to the ground, then rain turns it to mud. From the mud, a tower is built and, inevitably, crumbles into ash, starting the process over again. Cycles can be tough to break and promises even tougher to keep. Speaking of, have you made your New Year’s resolution yet?
FULL CIRCLE
“Full Circle” is about the past repeating itself. As society seemingly takes steps forward, in reality we are only completing the circle, once again back where we started. Nothing changes, we’re only adding a fresh coat of paint disguised as progress.
EMPTY PROSE
Most folks try to inflate their importance on the planet, but only a handful seem to truly make a positive difference. Pearls are clutched and then we’re gone. “Empty Prose” tries to work through the feeling of earning the gift of remembrance. What does legacy mean to you?
CEASELESS LANTERN
Rise and grind, people. It’s time to show the world what ‘making it’ looks like. Social media has us constantly shining our brightest light. If you’re unsure of what the perfect life looks like, don’t worry, Instagram has you covered. Influencers shill the wares of advertisers and we eat it up, all in the name of ‘success’.
PULP AND ROOT
You can choose your friends, but are shackled to family. Sometimes that’s a boon, yielding sibling best friends and sounding-board moms. But sometimes the gap between ideologies lived by family members is too wide to exist peacefully. Getting older, we grow. Sometimes growing together, sometimes growing apart. Cutting a parent out of one’s life feels wrong, but, after all, we have tiny shackles of our own to raise.
POISON DOWRY
The responsibility and duality of having kids is staggering, ranging from blissful joy to devastating heartache. You want your kids to struggle enough to experience hardship and growth, but never wish to be the source of their harm. The often net-negativity of life can create an environment ripe for apathy, nihilism, and depression to slip in. This track objectifies that negativity as a cloak that is worn and then passed down, like an inherited poisonous dowry, and the fear and regret of transferring a mood disorder to a completely innocent bystander, our children.
