HILLS LIKE WHITE LIONS - Canary

The opening title track is a slow build, taking a more rock-leaning approach before gathering momentum and adding aggressive vocals (a very welcome new element for the band) to complement the melodic vocals that handle the majority of the album's narrative.

‍

The midsection of the album brings back-to-back highlights in Cosmic Loss and Liminal Summer, with a healthy amount of catchy moments to balance the aggression (along with a great guest vocals spot from Pipi Gogerl on the former) before Hills Like White Lions go to even higher levels in the stratosphere.

‍

And Again is my personal pick of the bunch - benefiting from aggressive vocals coming to the fore, with the rest of the band increasing the intensity to match as the narrative reaches its climax.

Closing track Iron Lung, like the opening track, is another slowburn that also builds to a satisfyingly strong conclusion.

‍

If you're a fan of melodic post-metal, and like a storyline tying it all together, then Canary is well worth your time.

‍

SCORE 8.5/10

Reviewed by Steve Nelson