(Andy Synn provides his first impressions of the brand new Cave Sermon album)
Well, well, well… isn’t this a surprise!
And not an unpleasant one, let me make that crystal clear, as Divine Laughter, the second album from Post-Metal prodigy Charlie Park (aka Cave Sermon) was absolutely one of the best albums of 2024 (and only narrowly missed out on a place in my “Critical Top Ten”).
That being said, it’s entirely normal to be a little bit wary and/or sceptical whenever an artist is this prolific – after all, you can have too much of a good thing, and it’d be all too easy for them to accidentally end up repeating themselves, to increasingly diminishing returns, if they haven’t allowed themselves the necessary creative space between releases.
Thankfully, however, despite the truncated timescale between releases, I’m happy to say that Fragile Wings cleverly complements its fantastic predecessor – while also providing some welcome creative contrast – without simply attempting to copy what made it such a success.
This contrast is immediately made apparent during opener “Hopeless Magic”, which shifts the primary musical emphasis towards the more melodic and/or atmospheric side of things in a manner which – due to its more intricate instrumental layering and rich sense of texture and tone – reminds me quite a bit of latter-day Isis.
That’s not to say, however, that Park has smoothed away all the rough edges which made Divine Laughter such an intensely (and emotionally) raw experience – there are bursts of borderline-chaotic intensity during many of these tracks (especially the seething, searing mid-section of “Moloch”) that recall the madcap mentality of Inter Arma at their most abrasive, while the vocals (provided by Park himself this time around) add an edge of Hardcore-inspired harshness to the mix – but the focus has definitely (and smartly) shifted to emphasise a moodier, more progressive vibe over the course of these forty-ish minutes.
This is particularly notable during stand-out moments like “Arrows and Clay” – with its seamlessly interwoven guitar work and subtly proggy (albeit programmed) percussive patterns – and the hypnotic ebb and flow of “Three-Headed Moth” (which, even at this early stage, is a clear favourite for me), both of which provide a prime showcase for the expanded sense of space and dynamic depth (the latter in particular being a veritable study in contrast and flow) which characterises this album.
Sure, some folks who fell for the band due to the more aggressive and oppressive approach of Divine Laughter might find this one a little harder to love – though I’d encourage them to at least give cathartic closer “Ancient for Someone” a chance, since it combines the more proggy and melodic ambitions of the album with a hefty dose of angst-ridden, anxiety-inducing Math-Sludge curiously reminiscent of Black Sheep Wall at their best – but for me the striking differences (and subtle similarities) between the two records (not so much “two sides of the same coin”, more two distinct points on the same sonic spectrum) are part of what makes Fragile Wings work so well.
Does that mean it’s as good as its predecessor? Well, it’s early days yet, and the jury’s still out… though I will say that this one feels like more of a “grower” in comparison, so I’d encourage all of you to give it a bit of extra time and attention, to really let this one sink in, before making any final judgements. And I think that, by now, Cave Sermon have definitely earned that.