Album Review: Autoscopy by Lighteater

New York instrumental act Lighteater release their debut album Autoscopy on 1^st February. Initial tracking was done by Tom Tierney (A Place To Bury Strangers, Candiria) and was mastered by Carl Saff (Russian Circles, Elder, Helms Alee). The record finds the band in more extreme sonic territory – moving between the atmospherics of post rock and the harder edges of noise rock and post metal.

Lighteater released their debut EP Antique in 2015 to acclaim in the smaller world of instrumental and post rock. The Brooklyn based band has toured the northeast while maintaining consistent exposure in the thriving heavy local music scene, supporting bands such as Spotlights, Atomic Bitchwax, InAeona, Netherlands, Godmaker, and Somnuri.

It’s a strong release, five track clocking in at just over 30 minutes, it hits all the hallmarks for a rousing and captivating post-rock release. Opener ‘Arbiter’ is probably the pick of the bunch with its expansive and ambitious post-rock landscape, ‘Steam’ blends this feel with elements of post-metal to pack a bit more of a punch. Unfortunately, you get the feeling that it could have been trimmed a little and perhaps there wasn’t the need for the repeated riff.

That’s Autoscopy’s weakest point, the churning repetition, while it has its place, sometimes outstays its welcome. The title track in particular falls foul of this. Otherwise it’s a good album, worthy of your time.

AD Rating 6/10