By the end of 2022, the RMR reviewers realized that Xaon‘s latest record – The Lethean – never quite made it onto our swampy review pipe. And in truth, what record in its right state would want to dwell in that steamy sump just to be lost forever, right? So, with enough material to last a lifetime, we concocted the 2022 top ten list, sadly without Carson’s boyz.
Fast forward to late 2023. A few weeks back we tortured our eardrums with the Black Metal act Félonie, and happened across Red Beard Studios. Another of Rob Carson‘s outfits. And that made us check if Xaon – for some reason – sent the promo material. Better (very) late than never, right? And sure enough, like a ghostly message from the long-defunct, promo material magically appeared on our main email roster.1
Xaon has been one of those bands that – for some reason – fascinated us to no end. Already Face of Balaam got some undue attention, followed by The Drift, and the pretty snazzy 2019 epos Solipsis. The band packed layer upon layer of improved musical prowess and deliciously overdone bombast on top of every new record they released. So, here The Lethean is up against some terrible competition. And the challenge will be to beat the latest records’ roaring excellence into submission.
Interestingly, the band went for a self-release for this piece. To avoid restraints from labels and constraints from other annoying obstacles and dirty objects, I reckon. Also, the band wandered from the Swiss mountains – the home of the aforementioned Félonie – over to France with a brand-new lineup. The sole remaining (elder) member and vocalist supreme being Carson of course.
So, what strange animal have we caught ourselves here? The Lethean remains typical Xaon fare, that’s for sure. That’s no aha moment where the leopard lost its spots. Yet here, the band got us a bombastically epic unholiness that leans way more into cinematic soundscapes than before. In other words, you get some sort of Fleshgod Apocalypse 2.02 with a knack to majestically go over the top with – well – everything. And that’s actually part of Xaon‘s DNA of sorts.
Case in point, the exuberant and excellent If I Had Wings just knocks the ball out into space. Pure Italian Symphonic Death Metal at first,3 metal that then wades into a symphonic/cinematic turmoil that just sounds too good to be true. Oh, and as always, if you’re short on time, this track embraces the essence of The Lethean best. The less intense And Yet I Smile gorges with Power Metal vibes. Boy, you’ll even get a French interlude with a slightly Canadian lilt apart from sporting vibes that reach way too much into Arrayan Path’s (Cypriot Power Metal) shenanigans than they actually should. And speaking about the vocalist, this record truly finds Rob Carson in fine form, freely alternating between his Death Metal croak, shouts and hollers, and an abundance of often ebullient clears.
And should I share a bit of writer’s wisdom with you? Xaon‘s records are a bitch to review – and The Lethean is no different. Not because they’re bad, but because the densely written songs and the frantic and exuberant delivery present you with something different at every corner of the tracklist. It’s an endless procession of shiny objects and new ideas that jockey for attention. To the point that one suddenly seems to find oneself in some fantasy action film score. In other words, the often unhealthily bombastic complexity renders it difficult not to get lost in all that detail. An issue that’s true for a writer but also for the band and – more importantly – the avid listener. Well, the outstanding musical prowess and superior songwriting skills saved this record’s bacon for sure. You’ll even get an unplugged last track for dessert.
But – Xaon has also become predictable to an extent. Solipsis was full of surprises that often knocked us sideways.4 Yet here, the wizardry somehow shipwrecked on the gloomy Reefs ov Cheese and Bombast that darkly stick out of the troubled waters of Xaon‘s tumultuous soundscape.
But fear naught. The Lethean is and will remain a terrific record. And after you sailed through The Hunt, If I Had Wings, And Yet I Smile, or again Wanton, you’ll no doubt agree with me. This here record is – yet again – a snazzy example of Xaon‘s very varied musical prowess. A delight to listen to and to return to more often than we should.
Just for the heck of it – it’s that good.
Ed’s note: Fancy more blasts from the past? We got you covered.
Record Rating: 7/10 | Label: Self-Released | Web: Official Band Site
Release Date: 1 July 2022