Gradience - Anomaly [CD]

On the debut LP from this shrewdly named Danish duo, the usually clear-cut boundary between apocalyptic, sludgy blackened death metal and dark urban trap-rap is thrillingly pulverised. Lines of musical convention are further blurred by disarmingly emotive and intimate vocal lines, and a vibrant sound picture heaving with glacial synths and hypnotic sonic details. At first it might daunt and confuse those who like their boundaries clear-cut, but at the heart of Gradience's brash and radical new sound is an authentic and heartwarming new friendship. In 2022, guitarist Jakob Harris and vocalist Gavin Mistry struck up an immediate creative rapport at a Copenhagen show for local deathcore heroes Cabal. Although from very different backgrounds - Jakob a visual artist and musician playing in "a popcore band", Gavin a main player "in different hip-hop constellations" - they quickly found common ground in an area both were keen to explore.