Description
Sadness's "I Want to Be There" establishes its identity within the black gaze genre. Its sound veers away from raw black metal intensity, opting for expansive, dreamy atmospheres. Damian Anton Ojeda's signature approach tempers the harshness of black metal's usual bleakness with a delicate sense of beauty and melancholy. The album builds around shimmering guitars and lush soundscapes, creating a sense of longing rather than the frostbitten aggression typically associated with the genre.
A key characteristic of "I Want to Be There" is how the screamed vocals--reminiscent of depressive black metal--are mixed to blend seamlessly with the instrumental layers. This intentional obscuring of vocals, pushed toward the back, transforms the vocals into another textural element rather than a dominant force. This aesthetic decision diffuses the emotional weight usually carried by extreme metal vocals, steering the listener away from despair and toward introspection.
The balance between black metal's darker elements and post-rock's ethereal qualities gives this record its emotional depth. The opening and closing tracks, "In the Distant Travels" and the title track, lean more heavily on black metal structures but never fully embrace the genre's typical harshness. Instead, the fuzzy guitars and crashing cymbals are imbued with hope and uplifting energy. The post-rock influence becomes more pronounced in tracks like "I Want to Be With You," which forgoes black metal vocals entirely in favor of a choral atmosphere, evoking a serene and heavenly quality.
Ojeda also demonstrates his talent for creating immersive soundscapes, drawing comparisons to *Sigur Ros*. Both artists employ sweeping melodies that evoke feelings of transcendence. Still, where *Sigur Ros* tends to embrace more overtly uplifting and sentimental tones, Sadness anchors these grand moments in melancholy, avoiding overindulgence. The album is a delicate dance between light and shadow, making the listening experience emotionally rich and layered.
While it may not have the raw emotional punch of *Deafheaven* or the nostalgic charm of *Alcest*, *I Want to Be There* stands as a polished and thoughtfully composed entry into the post-blackgaze genre. Ojeda's ability to fuse the weightless hypnosis of black metal with the airy beauty of post-rock results in a sound that is both familiar and new. Sadness offers a captivating and often beautiful exploration of blackgaze, making the album a worthwhile listen for fans of atmospheric and introspective metal.
