Hiroe - Wield - Metal Epidemic

Hiroe – Wield
Release Date: 20th June 2025
Label: Pelagic Records
Bandcamp
Genre: Post-Rock, Post-Metal, Shoegaze.
FFO: Caspian, Isis, Red Sparowes.
Review By: Mark Young

Pelagic Records is home to an eclectic roster of artists, all of whom seem to provide their own unique take on what makes good music. Added to that list is Hiroe, who offer a collection of instrumental tracks that sits right at home on the labels roster. Your appreciation of the music will be largely dependent upon how much you like instrumental music, and I guess that if you aren’t a fan, then it might be best for you to look elsewhere. Similarly, if you are after crushing brutality, then you won’t scratch that itch here. But, if the thought of well written, arranged and performed music that charts the lighter and the darker side of things without the need for vocals appeals, then you should get onto this immediately.

And I’ll be honest, I’m not a massive fan of instrumental music and through the course of reviews I’ve done I can appreciate when it is really good, which is what you have here. Each track has its own identity, from the gentle opener The Calm, which gradually brings you in and washes wave after wave of melodies upon you. Initially, it was a case of well, this is nice but are there going to be riffs? Tides steps up, and we are off, with a grandstanding set that forms the backbone of the song and allows them to embellish it as the track progresses to its end. It’s not delivered in a fast or aggressive way and for that I’m glad because it would have lessened the impact of it, especially when they dial back for a moment of reflection. Each part is a logical extension of the piece that came before, but it always manages to find its way back to that starting point. Collider could best be described as a joyful experience that allows them to bring a little touch of the technical to proceedings whilst increasing that tempo a little, which in turn gives it that feeling of urgency. In the same way as Tides, they don’t stay in one lane for too long, going where they need to in order to serve the song itself. It’s the kind of music that provides the listener somewhere else to put their mind for a while. There are some lengthy tracks on here, Collider weighing in at 10 minutes, but there is no reduction in how they keep you engaged. As much as I love it when they go loud, you have to give them props for how they start Dancing at the End of the World, the melody lines in that as it starts are just mint and their real power is in these moments because there is a beauty that shines through.

It is a difficult album to review in some respects because it doesn’t represent the typical music that I listen to and the fact that each track is such a strong piece of music with no elements that are out of place. The transition from subtle to the riff down on The Crush is quality as the arrangement takes hold with what is happening behind that main riff, and it is those touches that make this such a great listen. Ultimately, it is a great debut release from them and is worthy of your time.