Album Review: Wintersleep - Welcome to the Night Sky


****1/2

I'll be honest; I was late coming to the Wintersleep party. Even though they're an east coast band (and I've long been a proud supporter of Maritime talent), I just never got into them for one reason or another. I think the lack of exposure from their debut album, coupled with the fact that the first song I'd heard from them was the decent enough but ultimately underwhelming "Faithful Guide", was what had kept me away.

However, all that changed last year, when I heard "Jaws of Life". The song, combined with its jaw-dropping video, got me intrigued. More music and videos on their website got me hooked. And, after going back and listening repeatedly to both albums, I was fully convinced that Wintersleep was a great Maritime band.

With Welcome to the Night Sky, their third release, the word "Maritime" need not be used in the above statement, other than describing this album as the best album ever put to wax by a Maritime band, as it very well may be.

Those expecting this album to sound akin to the first pair will be utterly and completely bewildered by Welcome to the Night Sky. To say that this is Wintersleep's fiercest, most forceful material would be a gross understatement. This album also sees Wintersleep absolutely fearless in their willingness to try new sounds. In this respect, it's almost difficult to believe at times that it's actually Wintersleep who's performing the music. From the energetic, ferocious "Drunk on Aluminum" to the bouncy sing-along romp "Weighty Ghost" to the atmospheric jazz rock turned post-punk of closer "Miasmal Smoke & the Yellow Bellied Freaks", it's crystal clear that this is not going to be a typical Wintersleep record.

Familiarities emerge from time to time, most notably on the sombre, hypnotic "Search Party", as close to a guaranteed pleaser to fans as is likely to be found on this album. On most of the album's ten tracks, however, caution is thrown to the wind, experimentation is rampant, and the guitars run wild.

And it's likely that Welcome to the Night Sky would be a career killing flop, if not for the songs. On first listen, it's kind of disarming to hear Wintersleep rock so hard, and it's not difficult to spend the 45 minutes in disbelief and wonder. With a couple of repeat visits, however, you realize just how strong the songwriting is on this album. Musically, as diverse as it is, as many weird noises lurk in the background, hooks are everywhere. Prime example is "Archaeologists", a fiery indie rocker with electronic swooshes, eerie vocal melodies, and who knows what else floating behind its wall of noise and instantly memorable "belly of a whale" callout. And it's flat out phenomenal in its catchiness.

Overall, this is an album that can be a little difficult to embrace if you're a fan of Wintersleep's other albums. But, the songs are just too good not to give in to after repeated listenings. Expectations were high for Wintersleep after their last release brought them to the threshold of national recognition. Now, with Welcome to the Night Sky, they've obliterated expectations. This is a thrilling, stunning tsunami of a record, and one that proves that anyone foolish enough to underestimate the talent of a Maritime rock band deserves to writhe in its wake. With this bold, uncompromising record, Wintersleep has ascended to legendary status in my books. Welcome to the Night Sky isn't just recommended; it's the new front runner for Album of the Year, and could be a contender for best of the last five.