On Not Around But Through, Portland-based experimental musician and tape wizard Amulets navigates the process of acceptance and the tumultuous journey of looking within. Over the course of eight tracks, he explores the emotional path of moving through rather than circumventing, in the process soundtracking a purposeful desire to face trauma and vulnerability. The Asian-American artist is one of the most gifted alchemists working at the intersection of experimental and heavy music today and this riveting album represents his most direct and immediate work yet. Infusing his trademark ambient soundscapes with ambitious blends of post-hardcore, emo, and metal, Not Around But Through connects the dots between personal and social dislocation, leaving listeners with a taste of the fragmented and fallen future they are all steeling themselves for. Traversing a landscape that varies from gentle and meandering to explosive and cathartic, Amulets uses cinematic tension and relentless attention to detail to construct his sonic apparitions. On "Lifelike" he collaborates with Midwife, incorporating Madeline Johnston's voice into a song that pulsates with post-shoegaze transcendent energy. Amulets' second album for Beacon Sound and his first new music in four years; his 2021 album The Blooming was released by The Flenser.
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