Harakiri For The Sky - III: Trauma

Albums I like a lot: Part VIII

(Originally submitted to the Metal Archives on October 23rd 2021)

There are periods in our lives that are defined by the art we consume. Whether that’d be a movie, a videogame, or in this case, an album. Harakiri For The Sky’s III:Trauma came in my life during a transitional period, and has since become one of my favourite albums. The music and themes presented through it resonated greatly with me, and have stuck with me for the better part of the last 4 years.

This album marks the point where the band truly comes into its own and establishes the trademark sound they’re now known for. The songs ooze atmosphere thanks to acoustic instruments that are used sparingly to punctuate the more emotional moments. That being said, the album is far from being a riffless affair like most of the albums permeating the post-black subgenre. There’s a slew of aggressive tremolo riffs that wouldn’t feel too out of place on a black metal release, and they’re often interlaced with subtle melodic leads that really help elevate them to the next level, like in the track “Thanatos”, which is arguably the record’s greatest moment. Their all around excellent grasp of dynamics is also worth noting, seeing as every piece flawlessly shifts between calm introspection and raw aggression, which is particularly noticeable in tracks like “The Traces We Leave” and “Viaticum”. The excellent instrumentation serves as the backbone of the whole experience, and drives the album’s themes home.

But what truly delivers the emotional weight of the project is the lyrics. On a surface level, it’s about an unnamed protagonist trying to unsuccessfully cope with the loss of a loved one, but it’s the emotions that are explored throughout that truly resonated with me. It’s all driven forward by nostalgia and ruminating on the past, as well as a general feeling of isolation and estrangement in the world, which, at the time of listening, were things that struck a chord with me. I can still remember the first time I listened to “Thanatos”, which is what prompted me to listen to the entire album, and in turn led to me diving into the band’s catalogue.

The production is also worth discussing, since there are some subtle differences that set this album apart from the ones that followed it. While the guitars do maintain that light ethereal sound that is common to the genre, the drums and bass are quite punchy, with the bass in particular standing out for its rattly tone, which isn’t present on subsequent releases. It really helps enhance the album’s more mid-tempo moments, as well as add another layer to the songs.

III:Trauma is a marker for me. It defined a very important period in my life, and listening to it always takes me back to it. It’s one of those albums that I value not only for their musical quality, but also their emotional resonance, and such albums are few and far in between for me. I could spend hours talking about how important it is to me, but I still would fail to competently put my feelings into words. Give this album a listen if you haven’t already, you won’t regret it.

Highlights: Calling the Rain, Thanatos, The Traces We Leave, Viaticum

Rating: 100% 

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