The Appleseed Cast
Peregrine

THE REVIEW

Good morning Appleseed Cast, come in, make yourselves comfortable. Formalities, a bit of small talk, and already a discussion could start with these guys from Kansas, who have never disappointed us before. We left them with the magnificent Two Conversations, a fusion of the classic post-rock sound that distinguishes the band in the genre with elements that have a bit of pop-rock, especially Christopher Crisci's voice in the foreground for the first time since the beginning. However, thinking back to the ten tracks of the previous album, Peregrine has much less to offer... Have they perhaps disappointed us? Did they manage to? Partly, but not entirely, as this album also contains gems destined to be remembered. Part of the album's limited fortune is due to an important change in the lineup: the departure of drummer Josh "Cobra" Baruth. The introduction is entrusted to an instrumental track that well conveys the idea of the composition: Ceremony. Then follow catchy tracks like Woodland Hunter (Part 1), Here We Are (Family in the Hallways) and Silas' Knife. Right after, they also experiment with electronics, giving rise to songs like the beautiful Mountain Halo, certainly one of the best tracks on the record, and Sunlit and Ascending. Then the most interesting and introspective part of this album opens up with a trilogy of interconnected tracks that certainly do not make one miss the dreamy melodies of the predecessor of this album. In the concluding part of the album, a couple of small surprises, like Peregrine and the instrumental closure of The Clock and the Storm. And when you least expect it, it's already over, the group's instruments stop resonating inside a stereo with twenty years of career behind it. One cannot help but be satisfied with the result, but one also cannot help but show signs of disappointment for the characteristics of this sparse sound, at times experimental, at times more "classic". Light years from today's records, yes, but knowing these guys, we know they've done much more and still have much to give, of which this album corresponds to at most 10% of the total. Balancing between appreciation and second thoughts.