After almost a straight week of reviewing nothing else exclusively black metal, I needed a dramatic shift to reinvigorate my brain and waft a breeze of fresh air through my mind. I felt instrumental rock would be a terrific place as always for such, and after searching through several records tonight I came across something very tasty. The underground always provides a plethora of promising acts and the Portuguese group of Before and After Science clearly belongs to such a group with this engaging record.

The vast, ever-expanding world that instrumentalists inhabit is one that I’m always happy to pay a visit to every now and then whenever I need to let my brain rest and simply go with the flow of some entrancing music that doesn’t need anyone’s voice to bring everything together. Instrumental bands are special in so many ways, and Before and After Science embodies so many great things about that world with “Relics & Cycles”. With a very well crafted cover art, this record already had a lot going for it in my mind, and the excellent seven tracks that followed were as delicious as I could’ve hoped for. “Relics & Cycles” stands as an album that truly feels organic and one that knows how to breathe in the sense that Before and After Science doesn’t try to cram too much in too little time and they pull it off with varying amounts of intensity whilst keeping it all equally balanced to truly capitalize on the diversity. If you were to close your eyes and really allow “Relics & Cycles” to take you, you’d be taken on a peculiar journey through a wooded realm filled with creatures that react to the music itself which is your guide, and the beauty of it all comes from how the songs flow together so deliciously well to create a seamless experience that allows this piece to take itself over the edge of both engagement and taste. Before and Science created a stunning record that really plays off the imagination and given time to refine their promising sound, even more, these gentlemen can create something truly extraordinary.

Instrumental rock has always been something that I’ve found comfort in, but I do my best to not listen to too much in a short time so I don’t get burnt out from such a rich style that always delivers. I blindly put my faith into Before and After Science tonight as I sat down to experience their prowess, and I was impressed to the very end. “Relics & Cycles” is a beautiful display of clear talent, and I would absolutely love to see a follow-up to see what this band out of Portugal could possibly do.

LISTEN to “Relics & Cycles” on Bandcamp here.

LIKE Before and After Science on Facebook here.