Album Premiere: Bank Myna – EIMURIA

Bank Myna’s EIMURIA is the epicenter of ritual meeting revelation; a haunting sonic ritual that transcends genre boundaries into blissful and profound catharsis.

Music carries innumerable emotions and feelings. While I typically gravitate toward cheerful, structured compositions or experimental instrumentals exploring contrast, rarely do I encounter artists who challenge the very foundation of what constitutes a satisfying listening experience. Paris-based doomgaze/drone-ambient outfit Bank Myna creates music that transcends instant gratification—a sonic séance that draws listeners, like moths to distant lanterns, into a meditative space offering profound introspection and catharsis.

Despite my familiarity with Bank Myna since their 2022 debut ‘VOLAVERUNT‘ (courtesy of Stellar Frequencies), I initially approached their sound with naive expectations of yet another post-rock album experimenting with bleak atmospherics. What transpired was transformative; their approach to drone and occasionally soul-crushing brand of atmospheric post-rock captivated me immediately. EIMURIA builds upon these qualities while amplifying them; their sense of adventure and experimentation reaches new heights, surrounded by an enigmatic intensity that bewilders and entrances in equal measure. It’s a dark, evocative work that finds equal pleasure in vocal hooks and the tenebrous depths that permeate their sonic landscape.

Bank Myna isn’t reinventing the post-rock wheel. Their arrangement which utilizes guitar and violin to craft long, simple yet evocative passages over bass and drum foundations remains familiar territory for genre enthusiasts. However, their integration of these elements within complex song structures distinguishes them from their contemporaries. At any given moment, their pieces shift between minimalist interludes, where a solitary instrument accompanies Maud Harribey’s powerful vocals, and overwhelming segments where the entire ensemble crashes forward with doom-laden intensity. This ceremonial character in their approach to post-rock crafts an experience where listeners can effortlessly surrender to the deeply profound undercurrents.

The album’s 47-minute journey showcases remarkable variation. Bass distortions dominate the opening track “The Ocean of Thoughts,” accompanied by Maud’s haunting vocals and background guitar textures. “The Shadowed Body” fully embraces doomgaze elements with immediate intensity that builds toward a cathartic crescendo. “The Other Faceless Me” retreats into introversion with hovering violins and subtle distortions, making the metallic rush in “Burn All The Edges” all the more impactful. The final and longest piece, “L’Implorante,” creates persistent unease punctuated by a terrifying eruption before concluding with a prolonged denouement.

The guitar compositions of Fabian Delmas emanate a foreboding atmosphere without defaulting to conventional power chord progressions, introducing unexpected lightness that strangely amplifies the underlying tension before asserting the music’s doom-influenced identity. Meanwhile, Constantin du Closel treats percussion as a textural element rather than mere timekeeping, allowing Bank Myna to shed conventional song frameworks and the typical dependence on heavy riffage.

BBeyond its atmospheric, séance-like qualities, something deeply romantic permeates this work. It unravels like forgotten folklore whispered through generations, suspended between memory and dream, where emotions hide in plain sight yet reveal themselves to the patient listener. Though predominantly reserved and expansive, the album never becomes tedious. Rather, it offers rejuvenation, albeit unconventionally. EIMURIA provides a nuanced examination of foreboding emotions without overwhelming the listener or inducing discomfort. The band masterfully balances tension and release throughout, creating moments of both claustrophobic intensity and breathtaking openness. This duality forms the spiritual backbone of the album, inviting repeated listens to uncover new layers beneath its shadowy exterior. Free from pretension, it delivers the perfect serving of ritualistic soundscapes that would undoubtedly translate into a hypnotic live experience—one I hope to witness someday, perhaps in some dimly lit Parisian venue where their magic truly comes alive.