Release Date July 24th, 2026
Format CD/Vinyl/Digital
Genre Cinematic Post-Metal
Origin England
Mountainscape formed in Reading, England, in 2019, uniting guitarist Dan Scrivener and drummer James Scrivener, former members of Traces, Aklash and Saturnian, with bassist Ethan Bishop of Cairiss. The band entered cinematic post-metal through "Acceptance" in 2021, then expanded its scale on "Atoms Unfurling" in 2022 and "Iridescent" in 2024. That short history shows a steady move toward broader arrangements, deeper atmosphere and longer melodic arcs. "Traversing Realms" follows this path through music inspired by film, games and bereavement.
Coming after a run of releases issued at a quick pace, this fourth album finds the lineup unchanged and the palette enlarged. The musicians’ other bands bring blackened, progressive and atmospheric metal experience, though Mountainscape remain centered on cinematic scope and post-metal dynamics. Amaya López-Carromero of Maud The Moth and Healthy Living provides vocals on "Dune". Sally Hobbs and Thea Hobbs contribute violin and viola to "Closure", joined by cellist Uta Mulenga and double bassist Tom Marsh. The added voices and strings extend the trio’s range without turning Mountainscape into an orchestral vanity project.
"Traversing Realms" takes themes and melodies linked to Hans Zimmer’s "Dune" scores and Jeremy Soule’s "The Elder Scrolls" soundtracks, breaks them apart and rebuilds them through Mountainscape’s own language. Monolithic riffs, reverberating drums, blast beats and broad guitar melodies turn those sources into towering post-metal, with quiet stretches serving as tension, not padding. The connection to existing scores remains obvious, so originality is not absolute, though the transformations go far beyond ordinary cover treatment. Amaya López-Carromero’s voice adds an eerie human presence amid the sandstorm scale of "Dune", and the shift toward "The Elder Scrolls" brings a brighter, more adventurous current.
"Closure" moves away from fantasy toward grief, framing personal loss with layered guitars and strings that stay solemn without slipping into sentimentality. Its emotional peak is immense, although a few earlier crescendos take too long to arrive and slightly dull the album’s momentum. James Scrivener’s drums, captured by Joe Clayton at No Studios, sound cavernous and physical. Dan Scrivener and Ethan Bishop handle the rest of the production, retaining separation across bass, guitars, vocals and strings.
The low end has depth, the drums strike with impact, and the melodies remain easy to follow when the arrangements reach full scale. Road To Masochist presents the album on CD, digital download and vinyl, with the vinyl edition receiving an additional song. This is ambitious music with genuine atmosphere and a strong emotional core, presented with enough restraint to stop grandeur becoming empty spectacle. The borrowed themes place a ceiling on its originality, and several long arcs run past their peak. Those faults leave marks, not scars. Mountainscape emerges with an immersive, powerful album whose final requiem lingers after the volume fades.
|8.0
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