Post-metal, post-rock, San Francisco’s Nio is just about post-everything. A collaboration between Davide Tiso (Ephel Duath, Gospel Of The Witches) and Jef Pauly (New Diplomat, Vela Eyes) the duo’s debut EP is more about an expression of energy, emotions, and sheer force than of sound, or melody; although there is still plenty of both to go around. The EP is entirely instrumental, but its epic proportions are enthralling enough to capture your attention and still leave you wanting more and the entire project feels as if it’s intended to be a soundtrack for some film that has never been made.
A great deal of the songs start slowly—oscillating menacingly. Some repeat and revolve hypnotically, swirling into a drone-like state like “Summit,” whereas others grow with increasing intensity until they seem fit to burst like “Delta.” The duo’s greatest strength however is in taking musical tropes and experimenting with them to dizzying new heights. Ideas and staples of metal and rock are taken on songs such as “The Wheel” and stretched and twisted to grotesque extremes. While you never hear its members speak for themselves, it’s obvious Nio is a project of immense passion and drive, because you can just feel the blood and sweat in every single moment on this record.
