Sloen is a french multi-instrumentalist that begun his carrer in 2022.
The guitar workmanship on Sloen's new release is simply irresistible. Across six tracks, the album demonstrates a masterful touch with instrumental layering, creating deep and immersive melodies that draw you into expansive sonic landscapes. The interplay between dreamy passages and carefully deployed distorted guitar creates a compelling contrast, like being gently awakened from a peaceful escape to confront the full weight of reality.
What sets this album apart is its sense of epicness. For All the Days Gone also includes themes the likes of a reinvented hero's tale, trading fantasy tropes for deeply personal struggles and triumphs. "Rebuilding What Was Lost" stands as the embodiment of this narrative arc that uplifts us with a hopefull feeling, but not before plunging us into an ocean of sadness and uncertainty. The compositions throughout carry an inspiring quality, building toward moments that feel both cathartic and earned.
The progressive metal influences are unmistakable, informing the album's ambitious structure and dynamic range without overwhelming its post-rock foundation. Sloen has found a sweet spot between both worlds, creating something that honors both trends while carving out its own distinct voice.
But it's "If We Meet Again Somehow" that delivers the album's most devastating moment. The delicate, soft vocals provide the perfect complement to the surrounding instrumentation. When the track reaches its climax, the effect is soulcrushing in the best possible way, as in my view, the song captures perfectly that all too known unmistakeable feeling of a heartbrake, making yours truly almost shed a tear.
For All the Days Gone is an album that rewards both patience and immediate engagement, revealing to us new layers with each listen.
