A powerful output after decades away, Leviathan is the memorable new album from Philadelphia post-punk band Sri Lanka. The record reworks archival material alongside fresh compositions, pairing moody percussive energy and gothic guitar distortion with compelling, alternative rock fervor.

“Solstice” opens the album with stylish charm, weaving panting percussive energy with moody guitar lines, overall finding an immersive balance between post-punk and alt-rock flair. “The sparks ignite, the chill subsides,” a nonchalant vocal opening follows, building with artful momentum to an ardent, hooky “within the solstice of my heart” push. Sri Lanka quickly establishes a sound that balances moody post-punk enjoyment and fervent immediacy. “The Haunting” arrives next and excels notably in its aptly haunting soundscape, where jangly guitar murkiness moves into heavier distortion and foreboding vocal allure, with the “can’t stop thinking of you” ghostly feelings being reminiscent of Depeche Mode.

Elsewhere, the album’s title track showcases the project’s ability to craft more slow-burning entrancement. Twangy guitars and solemn vocals emit a ghostly intrigue across the first half, which develops patiently into soaring guitars and heady distortion. “Eventide” excels as well, embracing a playful rhythmic demeanor amidst gentle sounds of waves crashing, before venturing into an infectiously dark rock display, showing fond shades of Interpol. Leviathan is a stirring success of an album from Sri Lanka, full of delectable post-punk and rock charm.

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“The Haunting” and other tracks featured this month can be streamed on the updating Obscure Sound’s ‘Emerging Singles’ Spotify playlist.

We discovered this release via MusoSoup.

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