After teasing their return with the dual single release of « Tides » and « Dancing at the End of the World », Philadelphia-based post-rock collective HIROE have officially unleashed their full-length debut, ‘Wield’ — now available via Pelagic Records (A Swarm Of The Sun, ASIWYFA, BRUIT ≤, Junius, Oh Hiroshima, pg.lost, The Ocean…).
Three years after their critically praised EP ‘Wrought’, the band delivers on all fronts with ‘Wield’ — a confident and compelling statement that cements HIROE’s place among the new vanguard of instrumental rock. Across six tracks and 47 minutes, the album flows with emotional precision, dynamic shifts, and rich textures, expertly shaped by the production hands of Mario Quintero (Spotlights) and mastering by Magnus Lindberg (Cult of Luna, Russian Circles…).
From the meditative grace of « The Calm » to the surging rhythms of « Tides », and from the intricate fretwork of « Collider » to the crushing resolve of « The Crush », ‘Wield’ plays like a meticulously charted journey across light and shadow. « Closer I’ve Been Waiting For You All My Life’ serves as a stunning emotional crescendo, uniting shimmering melodies with weighty atmospheres — a fitting farewell to a deeply affecting sonic voyage.
Building on the promise of their earlier releases, HIROE embrace a fuller, more expansive sound, thanks in part to a lineup shift that now boasts a three-guitar formation — Eric Kusanagi, Jill Paslier, and Brian Kong — supported by Jon Seiler on bass and Dan Sagherian on drums. The result is a layered instrumental palette that ranges from luminous ambient swells to thunderous crescendos — all while sidestepping the tropes that often dilute the post-rock genre.
With its seamless blend of cinematic restraint and post-metal ferocity, Wield unfolds in the vein of bands like Caspian, God Is An Astronaut, Lost In Kiev, Mogwai, Russian Circles, pg.lost, Deftones, Thrice, and Sunny Day Real Estate. It stands as a testament to HIROE’s musical maturity, artistic cohesion, and emotional depth.
