Bauda – “Vigil” (audio) (premiere)

It was only a matter of time, but the two most important progressive rock acts of the 2000s, Steven Wilson and Anathema, have started to yield other younger bands with a similar, broad-minded vision that takes the genre into exciting new territory in the 21st century. Chile’s Bauda are such a band, and as they show on their newest album Sporelights, they not only capture that soulful, melodic essence of those bands, but do so in a way that sounds wholly unique. Touches of avant-garde black metal are discernible on the new track “Vigil” — namely Enslaved and Ulver — as well as a very accessible side, too, making for a warm, very appealing sound.

“The song ‘Vigil’ refers to the awakening from the loneliness and the appropriation of our spiritual and physical freedom from those who enslaves us and don’t want us to think for ourselves,” says guitarist and singer César Marquez.

“Musically, it reflects our attitude towards music. We are always looking for new sounds, new challenges… we love changes. Throughout the entire album you can find different layers and textures and mixing all these different sounds together is very important things for us as musicians and songwriters. I feel that as a band we are closer to artists like Editors, Foals, White Lies, Ulver, etc…, not directly in terms of musical influences, but in the essence, the aesthetic and the visual presentation.”

Sporelights will be released on 20 October.