Old Man Gloom
Christmas

Old Man Gloom are not just any band. Considering they are formed by members of Isis, Converge, and Cave-In, they can truly be considered a supergroup of the post-core scene.
This "Christmas" (somewhat bizarre title) is their fourth work and features a mix of explosive heavy parts and ambient interludes. The opener starts with an ambient drone that leads into an acoustic opening before being violently overtaken by a devastating finale. Generally, however, the tracks are either heavy or ambient. The more violent parts directly echo what their parent bands have said, with guitars heavy as boulders, vocals quite low and closer to growl than hardcore scream, and a square and compact drum progression.
The songs are never as frantic as Converge but not as monolithic and expansive as Isis. The ambient tracks are often dark and unsettling and serve as an excellent "appetizer" before the massacre. Apart from the excellent "Accord-o-matic," over 7 minutes, the ambient tracks are quite short. Special mention goes to the concluding "Christmas Eve," ideally divided into three parts, closing the album with 16 exhilarating minutes.

To conclude, a work that is not very original, as both the heavy and ambient parts are nothing new, but excellently played and conceived.
Another success for the new American post-core school, which I can confidently say is currently the best producer of extreme music in the world.