Belfast-based rock band Chalk released their latest album, “Conditions III,” on February 21, 2025. It was recorded in Iceland and released by Nice Swan Records. The album features Ross Cullen, Benedict Goddard, and Luke Niblock. Chris Ryan produced the album.
This release is the finale of their “Conditions” trilogy.
Over the past three years, the band released “Conditions” albums, totaling 13
songs across the albums. The final album has four of these songs. The album encompasses genres such as post-punk,
alternative, electronic, and noise-rock.
The band does a nice job of incorporating various sounds and
styles across this album and the trilogy of albums. While not everyone will be
a fan of the music, the variety allows more people to connect with the music
either within each album or across the series.
While “Conditions III” is a great album, what really struck
me was the journey to Iceland to record the album and seeing how the music has
progressed over the trilogy. It would have made sense to release the 13 tracks
as one album, but the way the songs are split up makes sense for each album.
Each album has its own space to tell a story, with the trilogy overall creating
its own little world.
The album’s mixing and mastering are very well done. There
is such a power in the darkness of the songs, and the songs make the listener
listen in and pay attention. However, at some points, the vocals are
overpowered by the instruments. I am someone who loves instrumental music and knows
that music without words can tell a story, but I also want to hear the story
that the lyrics are telling when lyrics are present.
Overall, the individual songs may not be memorable for me,
but the overall feeling and story of the album as well as the trilogy will last
in my mind for a while. Chalk does a great job of encompassing stories within
each song and invoking emotions with their music, even if the lyrics are hard
to understand (when there are lyrics).
Rating: 6/10 Pool Scenes
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