Piah Mater – Under The Shadow Of A Foreign Sun (CD)

1) As Islands Sink 08:55

2) Fallow Garden 10:53

3) Macaw's Lament 02:43

4) In Fringes 08:43

5) Terra Dois 10:07

6) Canícula 08:55

PIAH MATER, the Brazilian progressive death metal duo, return with their highly anticipated new album Under the Shadow of a Foreign Sun. Six years after their last release, the band draws upon the diverse influences that shaped their previous two albums, which gained them a modest cult following, while introducing fresh elements to the genre. Their aim is to carve out a sound that is uniquely their own, breathing new life into the evolving landscape of death metal.

On Under the Shadow of a Foreign Sun, the duo continues to explore familiar sonic terrain, yet they stretch the boundaries of what death metal can encompass. Jazz fusion elements are more pronounced, especially on tracks like Fallow Garden, where an extended guitar and saxophone solo section, featuring Norwegian virtuoso Jørgen Munkeby (Shining, Ihsahn), creates a dynamic interplay. The album also brings in Brazilian folk music, as heard on the haunting closing track Canícula, a Portuguese-sung piece that gradually builds to the album's dramatic conclusion.

The album’s cover artwork was created by Romanian artist Rada Niță Josan. Singer and guitarist Luiz Felipe Netto explains the choice: "In an era where AI-generated imagery is increasingly common in the metal community, we felt it was essential that the album’s artwork remain distinctly and unapologetically human. Rada’s work is full of personality, and it’s immediately recognizable as hers. The moment I discovered her art, I knew we had to collaborate."

Lyrically, the album weaves a narrative through its six tracks, focusing on themes of personal inadequacy and a sense of alienation from one’s own homeland, accompanied by a yearning for escape. Netto reflects: "Whether due to climate change, cultural shifts, the mass migration of people, or the solitary journey of an individual, these patterns of migration are explored and condensed into the lyrics."

'Under the Shadow of a Foreign Sun' marks the second release by the band to be issued by Italian label Code666 and was released on July 5th, 2024.