(And actually, to throw one more reference at you, the sound that kept popping into my head during the album’s heavier moments is that of Dissection‘s comeback/swansong, Reinkaos. If you know that album, you’ll recognize the guitar sound and vocals pretty clearly – the resemblance is uncanny. I wasn’t a big fan of Reinkaos, ‘cause I was expecting a more vicious – and long-delayed, for infamous reasons – follow-up to Somberlain and Light’s Bane, but that criticism doesn’t apply to Saros, ‘cause they’re plying a very different sound and style – slow-burning thrash mixed with a psychedelic, contemplative side.)

Acrid Plains kicks things off with its terrific title track, one of the best on the album. Starting with a lovely, haunting intro, it then deftly switches up to a more muscular gallop. You’ll definitely hear the Agalloch right from the get-go, and if you’ve ever wondered what that band would sound like with a little more urgency, then here you go.

The next two tracks, “As the Tyrant Falls Ill” and “Coriolis,” bring in more of Saros‘ introspective elements, largely expressed via the aforementioned clean, dreamy vocals. Both tracks offer a variety of moods, although on the whole, I found the compositions to be meandering and had trouble getting excited about much aside from a few lovely moments. I do have to point out the final acoustic minutes of “Tyrant” though – captivating stuff.

Luckily, the rest of the album more than makes up for that sag, starting with the driving, thrashier attack of “Devouring Conscience.” The next track, “Reversion,” is even better, blending ethereal vocals with organic, buzzy post-black metal that made me think I was listening to Wolves in the Throne Room. Finally, Acrid Plains closes with the epic, 12-minute “The Sky Will End Soon,” which is also an accomplished piece of work that really brings it all home in a way that previous tracks “Tyrants” and “Coriolis” did not.

It’s clear from your first listen that Saros is a band with a very specific vision and a lot of class and talent to pull it off right. Although it’s not an overly aggressive, cathartic experience, there’s a lot here to bring you back for repeat listens. I have a feeling this will be a steady grower for me over the rest of the year. Definitely recommended for fans of Agalloch, Solstafir, WITTR, Ludicra, etc, another strong reason why USBM continues to be a hotspot for the genre, and why Profound Lore continues to be one of its jackpot labels.