“And it’s a repetitive pattern which is very destructive.”
Night Verses have had an interesting journey on their road to becoming one of the most dynamic bands in the modern progressive scene. The Fullerton, California based group formed in 2012 when vocalist Douglas Robinson (formerly of The Sleeping) joined forces with instrumental post-rock trio Sound Archives.
The quartet quickly made a name for themselves by fusing the aggressive intensity of alternative metal and post-hardcore with layered textures and complex rhythms. With Robinson as frontman, the albums Lift Your Existence and Into the Vanishing Light gained a significant following.
For many bands, losing their lead vocalist following such initial success could be a devastating blow. Yet with their richly multi-layered sound, Night Verses were uniquely positioned to transition to a fully instrumental band following Robinson’s departure in 2017.
From the Gallery of Sleep in 2018 not only proved that the group could hold their own sans vocals – it was a revelation, the sound of three musicians diving deeper into the nuances of their sound than ever before, while expanding what they thought was possible. The album significantly expanded Night Verses’ following, and opened up new doors of possibility for them to follow.
Now, five long years later, the band have returned with the first half of an ambitious 14-song epic. Titled Every Sound Has a Color in the Valley of Night, this new release sees Night Verses expanding their sound even further in every direction – heavier, more progressive, more unrestrained than ever before. And Part 1 alone is a bona fide epic, packing countless thrills into its 33-minute runtime.
Opener “8 Gates of Pleasure” wastes no time, barreling in with a menacing drum roll courtesy of virtuoso Aric Improta. Improta’s powerhouse, dexterous drumming is the backbone of Night Verses’ multilayered sonic assault, and he delivers one of his finest performances of his career across seven relentless tracks.
The band’s Tool influence has never been so readily apparent, as you can hear the alt metal titans’ sonic blueprint in many of Night Verses’ more sinister, foreboding grooves. Nowhere is this more apparent than on closing track “Séance”, with a feature from none other than Tool’s bassist, Justin Chancellor, who delivers a subtly intricate groove that could feel right at home on the more ambient passages of his own band’s masterpiece Lateralus.
In between these two incredible bookends, Night Verses deliver an eclectic sonic journey worthy of any prog fan’s full attention. Despite clocking in at barely over a half hour, Part 1 is so dense that it will surely take several focused listens to begin to fully unpack.
Lead single “Arrival” sounds like a video game soundtrack on crack – and I mean that in the absolute best possible way. This track is absolutely relentless from start to finish. The EP’s midpoint “Karma Wheel” is equally cinematic and grand, with brief melodic respites in between some of the most ferocious musicianship you’re likely to experience all year.
Every Sound Has a Color in the Valley of Night: Part 1 is a phenomenal return from one of our generation’s most thrilling progressive rock acts. With Part 2 set to conclude this epic odyssey in 2024 with vocal features from Anthony Green and Incubus’ Brandon Boyd(!) – fans of this exceptional trio have much to look forward to.
9/10
Every Sound Has a Color in the Valley of Night: Part 1 is out September 15th via Equal Vision Records, and can be pre-ordered here.