Growing out of the underground culture of Philadelphia during the end of the 1980s, Sri Lanka created a reputation for their unique blend of gothic post-punk and alternative rock. Even many years later, Leviathan emerges to be both a natural extension and renewal of the band’s history, revealing that its individuality hasn’t lost any of its atmospheric qualities, emotions and innovative spirit. Featuring songs both inspired by the band’s past experience and written from scratch, Leviathan seems to become the connection between two different ages.
“Solstice,” which introduces the album, becomes the perfect representation of the unique mood characteristic for Sri Lanka as it includes the elements of energetic percussion and darkly sounding guitars that make for a great combination of post-punk and goth. The second song called “The Haunting” continues this tendency in presenting listeners with a darkly sounding and catchy track.
There are many tracks that sound almost like scenes from movies shot at night, full of suspense and intrigue. For example, “Deep Inside” is a fantastic composition that is driven by the groove and careful layering of the sounds, while “Leviathan” relies on a different strategy. It features a heavy bass line and a more measured approach to creating tension, which leads to an impressive result, one of the best tracks of the album.
The second highlight of this album is “Eventide,” which begins in a relaxed manner and then shifts into a fascinating dark wave-rock composition with an impressive atmosphere. “Interlude” is a great instrumental piece that can help listeners unwind after some of the darker tracks of “Leviathan.”
The album closer “Elegy” proves to be an ideal choice for the ending as well. With its slow buildup, evocative keyboards, and belated arrival of the vocals, the song creates a sense of great anticipation leading to an absolutely filmic finish.
Leviathan is certainly the work of a band who knows how to craft a memorable album that is not lacking in captivating grooves, Gothic ambiance, or even insightful songwriting!
