Back in 2019, Ihlo released their debut album Union. I remember thinking that they had much potential as a band, especially if they could move beyond their obvious influences. The band is finally back with their second record, called Legacy, and that potential is paying off in dividends. The album releases on August 29th through Kscope.
Ihlo come to us from the UK. The lineup includes Clark McMenemy on drums, Phil Monro on guitars, bass, synth, and orchestrations, and Andy Robison on vocals and synth. You will also hear Liam McLaughlin on acoustic guitar, Connor Mackie on guitar, and Roman Jeuniaux on vocals and guitar.
The band has become something special. They play modern progressive metal, and their TesseracT influence is still there to some extent. However, that band shouldn’t be mentioned again in this review because Ihlo has launched themselves into the stratosphere, building worlds full of balanced riffs, mighty orchestrations, and swirling synth that are truly breathtaking. It’s not gimmicking whatsoever, feeling incredibly composed, authentic, and self-edited.
The main thing that drives my admiration for this album is the glorious synth. Phil and Andy provide some incredible keys that are truly beautiful, spacious, even cosmic. And they don’t just layer it on top of the songs and call it a day. No, the melody drives the music, spars dramatically with the lumbering riffs, surges into new places with cinematic flair. When I say “cinematic”, I don’t necessarily mean “epic”. No, this is different. It feels both grounded and soaring, earthy and universal. The melodies often come across as shards of enlightenment sweeping across heavy fields of rhythm and power.
So, yes, there is still the djent element, though I find it is used to great effect, and I love when the band breaks into the fuller, meatier riffs. They’ve learned how to use the difference to their musical advantage. And they’ve also learned how to let a song power its way off the tracks like a runaway locomotive, searching and exploring bright and surging auras that will implant themselves on your memory.
Legacy is a terrific ride, one with themes of technology and corporate greed. I’ll say that the second half is my favorite, but that’s not meant to belittle the first half. No, in the first half, we get songs like the opener “Wraith”, a bold and electronica-laced piece with anticipation and also satisfaction in its structure. I love how it builds up the album, but delivers some of the commanding color to come in its riffy, electric final moments. We also get the two singles, “Replica” and “Empire”, both of which I love for their muscular riffs; I especially like the phrasing of the vocals on “Replica”, sort of playful and yet determined. One of my favorites overall in this section is “Source”, with its first few minutes of colorful electronica and its searing, fierce synth that contrasts with the heavy riffs that hit halfway through the song.
But I like the second half more, and I think it has to do with the longer songs here. The songs have even more remove to breathe and become something celestial and magical. It starts with one of my favorites, “Mute”, a softer and more reserved track that feels personal. The nuance here is potent and headphones, like on much of this album, are required for full appreciation. I love the delicate guitar solos and fleeting melodies; the atmosphere itself is heavy, rather than bringing in the riffs, and the level of abstract beauty is so satisfying. But the album just doesn’t miss in this half. “Cenotaph” comes next with its lumbering, addictive riff and rich, luxurious synth; I really like the playful interlude in the middle. “Haar” has a really good central melody that surfaces at times, especially near the end. For some reason, it feels as catchy and tightly written as, I don’t know, something Journey would have done. I’m not sure why I feel that way.
The final two tracks are amazing and are probably my favorites. The title track has a gorgeous synth overlay that starts as subtle but eventually surges into the spotlight. The circular melody leads the song into an explosive portion of emotional vocals and heavy riffs that feels simply intoxicating. I love how the song ends with about a minute of abstract electronic shadows. The closer “Signals” is truly a masterpiece with its foggy atmosphere, burning synth, and yet delicate melodies. It is ten minutes long, and around the seven-minute mark, you can tell that emotional tension is building. The final minutes of the song are pure melody, feeling weightless and free, and in that moment, you feel hope, maybe even confidence. It’s an undeniably hypnotic high.
Ihlo used their great debut as a launching pad for a truly sensational album. Legacy is calculating yet untamed. It is colorful and fiery yet boasts in dark places. It is beautiful and emotional, but also full of intricate and complex performances. As I listened to it for the first time, I kept saying “Wow” to myself, and yet I feel the same way with several more listens since then. This is a special album that every fan of progressive music of any type should hear.
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The PROG Mind 