Myriad Drone – A World Without Us

A masterful sonic expedition where post-rock, blackgaze, and shoegaze collide to create something both devastatingly heavy and achingly beautiful.

After listening to thousands of post-rock albums over more than a decade, I’ve come to recognize that I naturally gravitate toward bands that don’t hesitate to experiment with genre boundaries or even their own established styles. While I cherish the classic tropes post-rock has to offer, every now and then I crave something beyond the usual fare—that occasional black sheep that emerges from nowhere and delivers an unexpected knockout blow.

Enter Myriad Drone, a four-piece outfit from Melbourne, Australia, who have mastered the art of blending genres like post-rock, blackgaze, and shoegaze. Their latest album ‘A World Without Us’ stands as one of the finest blackgaze/post-rock releases I’ve encountered in years. To call the dreamy, yearning vocals, euphoric melodies, and irrepressible energy merely a “breath of fresh air” would be doing them a disservice.

Fans familiar with their 2019 release Arka Morgana know that Myriad Drone traditionally navigates post-rock waters with a crushing metal undertone wrapped in shoegaze textures. A World Without Us evolves this formula by plunging into darker, angrier post-black metal territory while remaining firmly anchored to the cinematic qualities of post-rock and the ethereal nature of shoegaze. Like a skilled tightrope walker traversing between sonic extremes, they maintain perfect balance where others might falter.

The vocals immediately command attention. Shane Mulholland, the band’s guitarist and vocalist, delivers an impressive range—from harsh black-metal screams to soft, orchestral clean vocals that complement each other remarkably well, thanks to creative compositions and thoughtful arrangements.

The eponymous opening track wastes no time, delivering crushing riffs and thumping basslines reminiscent of fellow Australian legends Meniscus. Instruments drip with reverb and delay before the vocals arrive to elevate the experience. The song builds tension gradually, allowing itself space to simply exist and breathe. ‘Forlorn Hope’ builds on this intensity, escalating like a storm gathering strength on the horizon—quiet at first, then unleashing its fury with blood-curdling screams amid cascades of delay and reverb. This momentum carries into ‘DHYAMTTAJ,’ perhaps the album’s most classically post-rock track.

The album’s second half maintains this intensity, constructing atmospheres through reverb-laden guitars, exceptional basslines, and beautifully layered vocals interspersed with occasional screams. One of this record’s strengths is its unpredictability—it never lets you settle into comfort, constantly shifting between diaphanous lightness and weighted heaviness in a form of controlled chaos.

My favorite tracks are split between ‘Disharmonia’ and ‘Whereabouts Unknown’—two of the heaviest offerings on the record. ‘Disharmonia’ moves at a faster pace, building toward a fascinating section of distorted guitars and smooth basslines with powerful drumming. The vocals soar above with unyielding harshness yet transition to clean passages with surprising adulation. ‘Whereabouts Unknown’ feels like the culmination of the album’s emotional journey—starting slowly, as if searching for direction, before a heavily distorted guitar takes command while another lingers further in the mix, interwoven with chunky, satisfying bass. The music drifts before a wonderful tremolo guitar solo pulls everything toward a reflective crescendo that gradually fades away, leaving emotional resonance in its wake.

The production deserves special mention. Each instrument occupies its own space while contributing to a cohesive whole. The mix achieves that elusive balance between clarity and atmosphere, allowing even the most chaotic moments to retain definition and purpose. This technical excellence elevates already strong compositions into something truly exceptional.

The Australian post-music scene continues to produce remarkable artists, and Myriad Drone proves the Aussie post-rock world remains extraordinary. They’ve created an album that feels like a journey through a landscape of emotions—anger and despair gradually giving way to catharsis and tranquility.

My recommendation? Grab your headphones, dim the lights, pour a glass of whiskey, and prepare yourself for an epic ride through a spectrum of emotions, ultimately finding peace in unexpected places. This album deserves a place in your collection, and if you haven’t secured the vinyl yet—don’t wait. This is not one to miss.