VEMA, the Spanish post-rock/post-metal act from Málaga, takes another step in exploring the sonic unknown with their new EP Feathers, an intense three-track release that channels atmosphere, aggression, and introspective depth.
Formed in 2019 by founding members Miguel Ángel and Quini, the instrumental band emerged with a focus on crafting soundscapes that capture the emotional spectrum of post-rock and the explosive force of post-metal.
Their debut album, Ocean Gyre (2021), won praise for its immersive quality, transporting listeners into darkly beautiful soundscapes. After establishing their presence through a series of live shows and competitions in 2022, the band faced a period of lineup changes in 2023, ultimately finding stability again in 2024 with the addition of Alexey.
Feathers marks VEMA’s return, produced by Gonzalo Presa at Moby Dick Studios and released in October 2024. This EP delves into what the band describes as “a conceptual release built around the ‘Black Swan‘ concept described and proposed by Nassim Taleb.”
VEMA’s opening track, “Komorebi,” introduces listeners to the quiet beauty of nature—a reference to “rays of light falling through the trees in the forest”—an idyllic calm that is, as Taleb’s theory suggests, shattered by an unpredictable event. “The idea behind the tracks,” the band explains, “is that at first, everything is peaceful… and you do not think that something bad will ever happen to you, but then—Black Swan happens, breaking lives and destroying everything on its way.”
Drawing parallels with catastrophic events like the Lake Nyos disaster, VEMA uses their music to reflect on how such unforeseen tragedies echo long after they pass.
“Echoes” captures the aftermath, extending over eight minutes of brooding, atmospheric post-rock that brings a weighty presence to the EP.
This isn’t standard post-rock; the dynamic shifts and aggressive tempo changes hint at influences from post-hardcore and progressive metal, adding a distinct edge to VEMA’s sound. The band’s approach to “Echoes” feels like a march through desolation, an “aftermath of this horrible event we deal with… destroyed lives and families, destroyed nature.”
The EP’s art mirrors this concept, showing a contrast between thriving life and a dying world—nature clinging on, yet fragmented, a stark reminder of self-destructive tendencies.
In this respect, VEMA’s music doesn’t just dwell on despair but captures the resilience woven into survival. “It’s not the typical sound you’d associate with post-rock,” they note, and “Black Swan” could easily serve as a foundation for genres with a more intense, gritty edge.
VEMA plans to bring Feathers to the stage in Valencia on November 16 at Sala Zulu Klub, with additional shows in Málaga in January, where they’ll showcase new tracks currently in development.
