BeatRoute Magazine BC Edition - November 2019

Reviews
ALBUM
TR/ST
The Destroyer - Part 2
Grouch/ House Arrest
Arriving as the twin flame to The Destroyer
released earlier this year, The
Destroyer - Part 2 is the second album
of 2019 by Toronto darkwave outfit TR/
ST and functions as its necessary sequel.
In the five years since the release
of 2014’s Joyland, the project’s anchoring
member Robert Alfons has taken
inventory of himself by deconstructing
the concept of shame, and addressing
it head on.
The result is an exploration into
interiority, emotion and memory told
through lo-fi vocals with an emphasis
on atmosphere. The Destroyer - Part 2
establishes a new landscape from its
predecessor by masterfully emphasizing
ambiance and control. It’s a collection
of contemplative, energetic, and
sometimes sparse tracks that unfold
like micro vignettes.
Though consistent, the album features
similar thematic audio cues, like
the repetitive use of slow, echoing, and
hypnotic keys. “Enduring Chill” serves
as an overture to the album, and exists
as a wash of sound hinting at the peaks
and troughs of the album’s sonic ambition.
Elsewhere, “Darling” is dark and
beautifully harrowing, providing lyrical
robustness, and a spirit of experimentation.
The slow-moving interlude “Cor”
is held together with an almost-idiosyncratic
melody.
“Iris,” however, is the album’s
electro-pop standout. Executed as a
hopeful, multi-layered track, it’s fitted
with plenty of spacey synth lines that
burst with energy and glimmer like
confetti. You want to dance, but maybe
by yourself.
The dynamic range of tracks on
the album feels intentional. Together,
they offer a vivid lens to understand
the complexities of the album’s titular
theme and contrasting emotions. On
Part 2, Alfons refuses to shy away from
the reality of these experiences, but
attempts to explore how they often
function together.
Best Track: Iris
Dora Boras
NOVEMBER 2019 BEATROUTE 23