The Virgin Suicides...
 

Ibn al Laheeb, a relatively unassuming band, doesn't make much fuss about itself. Their earlier tracks leaned more towards the post-rock genre, but the first song I have here, which will be part of an EP, defies easy classification.

They've chosen John Everett Millais' painting "Ophelia" as the cover art. It portrays Ophelia from Shakespeare's Hamlet, appearing lifeless as she floats in the riverbed after her desperate act of suicide.

As expected, their topics are challenging to digest, and the sound image aligns perfectly with that sentiment. Distorted synths explore the depths and the extremes of the scale, accompanied by a vocal lead that passionately denounces the injustices of the world in a plaintive, almost screaming style. The percussion section maintains control over this madness, keeping it within the boundaries of our reality.

This is where the art of storytelling truly shines: it never spirals out of control, never becomes incomprehensible. It becomes a nostalgic soundtrack for romantic despair, an ode to those who sought solace only in the river's embrace. It's like a poem by Georg Trakl, set to music with a psychedelic touch reminiscent of the 1970s.

If you're a fan of avant-garde, psychedelic ambient, or experimental music, I encourage you to click on the link and look forward to the forthcoming EP.

They Will Never Hurt Me Again on Bandcamp