Like many of us creeping into frosty temperatures and long dark nights, Finnish progressive post-metal band Besra is entering a more frigid era with their new EP, Equilibrium, out this Friday on Suicide Records.
Equilibrium represents a heavier, more refined, and more focused version of Besra, oscillating from delicate ambiance with clean vocals to intense wall-of-sound grooves overlaid with raw screams. As the title suggests, the new EP is a masterclass in balancing different means of emotional and musical expression. A warm melody drifts through fierce guitars, carefully plucking its way through the onslaught like a butterfly in a thunderstorm. The details are small, but powerful, adding profound depth to Besra’s new songwriting style.
Taut and intense, the EP showcases a new energy and urgency for Besra. After taking five years to create their 2023 album (Transitions, also on Suicide Records), the band felt it was time to push themselves with a new sense of focus. Guitarist Johannes Nygård shared:
"There was some material left over from the last album that we decided not to release. At the same time, we felt that new ideas were bubbling up, so we tore open those old drafts and composed new material alongside them. This created a continuation that felt right following the album, and at the same time, it points towards a slightly darker Besra, which is where we seem to be right now. While the previous album took nearly five years to refine, we decided to take a more straightforward approach with this EP and intentionally composed the tracks on a fast schedule to challenge the endless overthinking that’s been a part of our band.”
Beautiful yet gritty, overwhelming yet delicate, Equilibrium is proof that the darkness of winter can also be a time of profound transformation.
Pre-order the album on Bandcamp and stream Equilibrium in its entirety below.