When words fail to encapsulate a strongly evocative, tightly composed piece of music that stirs the visual cortex of the brain, the word "cinematic" often comes to mind. Altas' latest album, Epoca De Bestias was not written to be a movie score but the experience of each song feels like a life-affirming journey. Recorded at both Sailor Records Studios and Consonance Productions in Denver, Colorado, by Nick Sullivan (The Knew, Montropo, Los Lobos) and mastered by Joe Lambert (Pelican, Russian Circles) in Brooklyn, New York, the seven songs of this musical epic are the result of a handful of years honing the material live and fine tuning the dynamics to absolute perfection. The group's 2009 debut EP, Cortometraje, when the outfit operated as Panal S.A. de C.V., was promising but it sounded like sketches compared to the new recordings. Epoca De Bestias is a leap forward in the richness and density of the soundscaping reminiscent of Mr. Beast period Mogwai. With a more fully-integrated electronic side of songwriting evident here, Altas has captured the power of its live sound with a rare power and clarity. "Altepetl" kicks things off with a swarm and swirl of guitar sounds and an ascending riff as though we might be in store for some strange synthesis of space rock and grindcore but then shifts gears into a luminously gorgeous, soaring, soothing melodic passage as though coming out of the unnatural energies of a worm hole into open space. "Superfund" closes the album with a lingering melodicism and grit that whirls up into a colossal progression of echoing notes suggesting the end of an era. In between is a riveting cosmic journey fueled by musical passion and inspiration.

Edward Stumpp is a composer / improviser of electronic and electroacoustic music. His work focuses on implementations of machine listening, guided improvisation, visualized scores, and audio-visual music.

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