Sometimes, the best way forward is to stop looking for new roads and enjoy the view from the one you’re already on. After more than 20 years spent pushing post-rock’s boundaries, Caspian have seemingly reached that conclusion on their self-titled sixth album.
Opening with the slow, chiming Hiraeth, Caspian feel like they’re preparing the stage for a ceremony, its delicate melodies gradually drawing you into their world. Far Country follows with all the grandeur and power of an orchestra, swelling into a magnificent wall of sound, while nine-minute behemoth Remain patiently builds tension before unleashing a storm of guitars. It’s familiar territory, certainly, but there’s something rather lovely about watching masters of their craft do what they do best.
A Great Fire, meanwhile, initially sounds like the soundtrack to an orc army marching out of Orthanc after receiving orders from Saruman. Its predatory bass line stalks through the darkness before giving way to something more uplifting, albeit briefly, as the low end returns for another onslaught. It’s a thrilling reminder that Caspian can still make heaviness feel genuinely threatening rather than merely loud.