Rýr
Dislodged
Moment Of Collapse Records
One of the joys of the instrumental album is the freedom with which it allows the listener to explore their own interpretation of the music. What stories or imagery does each passage conjure? What narrative can be weaved amidst the cacophony of riffs, melodies and rhythms? It is something that Germany’s rýr do with seasoned aplomb on third helping, ‘Dislodged’. The band’s name itself is Icelandic for “barren”, and in many ways that is apt for ‘Dislodged’. From the opening strains of “Flung”, the image of a post-apocalyptic tundra is never far away. Try listening to the title-track’s quieter moments early on and not get a sense of icy hostility amongst the delayed clean guitars and soft tremolo. Equally, “Lapsed”, with its crushing riffs, dissonant arpeggios and chilling clean interlude carries a sense of dreadful foreboding: there’s now no chance of rescue, the night draws in and it is just so cold… Yet closer, “Foiled”, somehow, adds a sense of steely resilience to the fold. The dissonance has given way to more of an uplifting melody that holds a small candle of hope to a more positive end to the story. Whether it’s a doom-laden story amongst the ice, or a metaphorical tale about something just breaking, it is this complete arc which makes ‘Dislodged’ an enjoyable ride. The story may be different for every listener, but it’s a full, emotive journey that rýr ensure wrings every last drop from its musical material.
Review by Lee Carter