Combining Space Rawk with elements of Prog as well as Goth and Post-everything tendencies, Lehnen create entire universes within each of the ten tracks presented here on their fourth full-length Negative Space. With their latest opus, words like expansive and epic can barely contain the scope that Lehnen bring to the world of music on an album that’s powerful, poignant, and potentially your next favorite of 2021.
Lehnen is like some great lost band from the mid-’00’s. Think a heavier version of The Mars Volta. The Receiving End Of Sirens but harder. Old Man Gloom minus the more experimental, louder moments. Or if you want something more recent, think of Deafheaven’s recent evolution. “Hangman” captures that sentiment a lot during this great and glistening beginning. Further in, “Mute” is slightly unnerving with surrounding synths creating a warmth while Joel Boyd’s voice accompanied by a staccato drum battering drive headfirst into a massive chorus before settling back down again and then “Lacuna” is filled with broad vocal strokes as the bass simmers underneath and the purposive strikes from Matthew Prokop’s drumming cause a glorious sonic dichotomy.
“You Throw Light” is similarly striking with a fuzzy bass rumbling and guitar sounds from Boyd like something you’d hear from The Cure or I Love You But I’ve Chosen Darkness while “Elephant” is like a mix of early Interpol and The Bravery if they’d chosen a darker path instead of the light with sounds bumping and banging into one another to form the most perfect cacophony of noise and conjuring up this brilliantly uplifting soundscape in the process.
“Playact” gets its’ synthetic Groove on, going for a glowing four and a half minute pile driver of immense aural ecstasy to prelude the title track which is a whole new odyssey of excellence hearkening back to hum in terms of scope and Post-Rawk goodness contained within. Closer to the end, “Curtain” is serene and ethereal with robotic voices perforating the synthetic sheen leading into the mega finale of “Obscura” which encapsulates the Lehnen sound with its’ gripping guitars, calculated percussive blasts, and spacious vocals to bring to a close one defiantly different album that’s easily a rewarding listening experience to anyone willing to dive in.
Negative Space lands on September 17th through Noise Appeal and Post. Recordings. Pre-order your copy now by heading here. For the latest on Lehnen, follow the trail of socials when you click here and here.