I love an album where the deep cuts are better than the singles. While there are plenty of records where the singles are the only songs worth hearing, bands like Remina tend to save their best for the album experience. Their new record The Silver Sea releases on October 24th, and I’m obsessed with it.
Remina hails from New Zealand and includes Heike Langhans on vocals, lyrics, and synths, and Mike Lamb on guitar, bass, and synths. This time they bring with them Shayne Roos on drums, and guest vocalists Mick Moss (Antimatter) and Tony Dunn (Sgàile).
The band plays something akin to gothic doom, but the atmospheric, melodic, spacey kind. So, it’s somewhere between the cosmic drone of Heike’s ISON past and the death metal of Mike Lamb’s Sojourner. You’ll hear plenty of burning riffs and rhythmic licks right alongside spacious synth melodies and excellent drumming.
But the real selling point here is the ambience. Remina offers heightened emotions, soaring auras, and poetic lyrics about demon stars, Greek goddesses and the mysterious planets named after them, and more. There is a swooning, hypnotic intelligence that hovers throughout the album, from the delicate first seconds to the emotional finale. And it’s all so beautiful and celestial, though with plenty of murky darkness and brooding shadows swimming through the sound.
While doom typically utilizes harsh vox, there are none here. All we need is the “siren” vocals, Heike’s commanding and effervescent style, which are both powerful and vulnerable at the same time. Her voice sounds amazing with Mick and Tony’s, as well, making for two duet tracks that are both sensational.
The Silver Sea has seven tracks and runs like a consistent river from beginning to end. The first half gives us the opener “Trust No One”, full of whispers and gentle electronica as it builds into a rumbling powerhouse. The single “Algol” with Mick Moss comes next and is a terrific show of contrast between Mick’s earthen baritone and Heike’s smooth melodies. I absolutely love how they sound together.
“Vanta Ray” follows and might be my favorite. Tony and Heike sound amazing together, but in a completely different way than on the previous track. No, instead of contrast, Tony’s voice helps build energy and power, and so the thundering drums and dark drive sound absolutely mesmerizing and the chorus makes me want to sing!
In the second half, we get the single “Theia”, which I knew I’d love from the very first whispery seconds. It’s an expressive track that really leans into Heike’s poignant vocals. Next is “House of Suns”, probably the dark horse of the album because of its slow-burning atmosphere and echoing fervor. It takes a few listens, but it grows and grows like a newborn star.
The last couple songs are both fantastic. “Io” is a contender for my favorite with its forlorn style, delicious transitions, and gorgeous synth. I could exist inside this song forever. The closer is “Silence and the Silver Sea”, a stunning piece that feels like sailing upon dark, eternal waters with its reverberating character and smooth instrumental. I love the concise beats matched against floating layers of vocals and sparkling rhythms. Gets me every time.
Remina have avoided the sophomore slump. The Silver Sea is a glowing and magnificent record pregnant with faraway nebulas and inner battles. The vocals are second to none, and the surrounding music will whisk you away to other dimensions. It’s a beautifully human effort, just as much as a cosmic journey, and it never lets you forget that.
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The PROG Mind 