The final stop of Sumac’s West Coast tour in January 2019 was a first. Believe it or not, the masters of sprawling, dissonant post metal have never before played Denver. For a place that gets just about every band who has their own gear (and plenty of those who don’t) it’s surprising it took the trio over three years to finally play show here. And they did not disappoint.
Aaron Turner’s music, both Sumac and ISIS before it, have always lent itself well to more exploratory and experimental sounds. Opening this string of West Coast dates was Tashi Dorji. Strumming, picking, and smashing his way through a proper experimental noise set with his guitar, assorted makeshift picking devices, and a loop station, the set had a cadence, flow, and structure that escapes less-seasoned avant composers.
Following Dorji was the two-piece atmosphere-generators
Divide & Dissolve whose songs are derived from sociological thought work about the nature of ownership and identity, and act as vehicle to deliver their message of indigenous peoples rights and ending to white supremacy. Takiaya Reed’s looping saxophone-gone-oboe and orbit-resonating bass, combined with the tight-loose smash of Sylvie Nehill’s drumming created a haunting response to questions the crowd seemed excited to hear posed, but ultimately unwilling to answer.
Sumac lunged into their set with their Neurosis-adjacent sonic trajectory, and filled the rickety but lovely
Larimer Lounge with their ominous and unforgiving tones. Unhinged sludge-mongers pushed the crowd forward, heaving back and forth with every chug of the guitars, only to fall still into zombified trances as the vast songs (some of them exceeding 20 minutes) meandered delicately into softer, ambient pastures.
Not only was it Sumac’s first show in Denver, but is their last of this particular tour. Next time they hit the road, be sure to check them out.
Listen to “Blight’s End Angel” by SUMAC
Listen to “Both Will Escape” by Tashi Dorji & Tyler Damon
Listen to “Abomination” by Divide & Dissolve
