by Ian MacPhee (@i_macphee)
After quietly releasing their 2018 EP, Los Angeles, California’s Sprain began to gain traction on the west coast. On September 4th, they released their debut album As Lost Through Collision on dark music label The Flenser. The group’s eclectic blend of slowcore, art rock, and wall-of-sound feedback is refreshingly new, and the five songs are focused and deliberate. As Lost Through Collision is a cathartic release from a band creating relentless and inventive music.
Accurately describing the music of Sprain is tough, but it’s roughly comparable to the melancholy of Duster and the brutality of Swans. The music is just as melodic as it is piercing, and the emotional intensity of each song is almost tangible. The album begins with “Slant,” a five minute onslaught of tempo changes and aggression. The song flows between soft, crawling guitar riffs and roaring drums and amplifiers. The vocals of singer Alex Kent follow this pattern, ranging from quiet verses to screams. “My Way Out” is the second song on the album and offers a counterpoint to the power of the opening track. “My Way Out” is sparse and contemplative, spanning nearly nine minutes. A cyclical chord progression makes up the majority of the track and Kent’s vocals drop to a whisper. The guitar, piano, and climactic finish are reminiscent of post-rock greats like A Silver Mt. Zion, but filtered through Sprain’s distinct lens.
“Worship House” was the first single released for As Lost Through Collision. The song channels the dissonant melodies of 90’s groups like Unwound, and the intricate drumming of Max Pretzer propels the music forward. Each riff lasts slightly longer than expected, evoking the sense of anxiety and restlessness felt in the music. Following this is “Everything,” a fifteen minute trek into droning feedback and chaotic energy. The beginning of the song finds the band locked together in a slowcore-esque groove, but any semblance of traditional song structure is shed about three minutes in, giving way to walls of noise. After a screeching breakdown, the track enters the meditative drone territory of groups like Sunn O))), which carries out the final ten minutes. The song is monolithic in scope and shows the lengths the band is willing to go to realize their artistic goals.
The album ends with “Constant Hum,” the second single released for the album. “Constant Hum” stands out in that it’s the most gentle track on As Lost Through Collision. The song is a slow burn that builds continuously, and the intertwined guitar playing of Kent and Alex Simmons rings clear with mournful emotion. Kent’s voice is most prominent on this song, and harmonizes beautifully with the vocals of bass player April Gerloff. The chorus has an unhinged shoegaze vibe, and it’s one of the most cathartic moments on the album.
Sprain’s As Lost Through Collision is an impressive release that runs the full spectrum of emotions. It sounds as though the band put everything on the table while recording, determined to explore all sonic directions. While much heavier than their four song EP, As Lost Through Collision finds the band digging deeper into their sound, and the resulting songs are an amazing introduction to a group that’s unafraid to test musical boundaries.