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Post metal outfit Rosetta have recently undergone a thorough face-lift. Their “modernized” band logo is entirely unreadable. Their new album cover is a striking aberration from the ensemble’s previous artworks. They’ve become their own band, removing themselves from their previous record label. What does all this reconstruction translate into? Is this metamorphosis significant and worthwhile, or is it simply change for change’s sake?

Cover

Tracklist

1. Ryu / Tradition
2. Fudo / The Immovable Deity
3. In & Yo / Dualities of the Way
4. Oku / The Secrets
5. Hodoku / Compassion
6. Myo / The Miraculous
7. Hara / The Center
8. Ku / Emptiness
9. Shugyo / Austerity

Musically speaking, Rosetta haven’t adjusted much, but the variations that do exist are subtle, requiring multiple playthroughs to uncover the hidden gems. One of the most prominent examples of this is the fade from “Oku / The Secrets” to “Hodoku / Compassion.” The latter plays its part extremely well as the interlude in the album, but it could feel out of place if not for the wise decision to slowly evaporate from the aggressive into the calm and serene. The instrumental “Ku / Emptiness” is arguably the strongest song on the album, as it draws from an extremely wide range of influences and goes all over the place in a delicate yet stable manner. It’s these small yet vital touches of awareness and creativity strewn throughout that showcase Rosetta’s increased maturity since The Galilean Satellites.

However, faults most certainly exist within this record. “Myo / The Miraculous”, the shortest song in the record, is also one of the most promising, as it sees Rosetta breaking out of the shell that they seem to have placed themselves in. However, it ends all too abruptly and without reason, making the endeavor a frustrating and lacking listen. “Shugyo / Austerity”, the outro to the album, isn’t really a song so much as an ambient experience. This might not be a problem for some, but for others it can last for far too long with little to no gratification. It hinders ones aural involvement with the album, and ultimately the record would feel much more satisfying if it was simply taken out, or at the very least three minutes shorter.

Rosetta have, without a doubt, created a musical venture that invokes a wide range of emotions, encompassing both vigor and, unfortunately, disappointment. That’s not to say there aren’t moments here that aren’t rewarding. There are songs present that are encouraging for long time Rosetta fans, as they display a unique angle on their patented sound that is vehemently screaming to be explored. For The Anaesthete, though, a physical change in appearance doesn’t translate into a much needed musical change in sound.

Rosetta’s The Anaesthete gets 3 Lobster Corgis out of 5

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