Post-rock's ever-increasing popularity is both a curse and a blessing, and while the market is saturated with mediocre bands, a few diamonds in the rough surface in the midst and bring us a breath-taking record. An extremely talented group of six from London, eaststrikewest has recently released their debut record Wolvves, a collection of both vocally-driven and instrumental tracks that are so stunning and majestically complex that one could assume the band has a number of full-length albums under its belt.

The album consists of eleven tracks, three of them edits of other songs on the album. Whether vocalist Tom Clark is singing or not, the songs are enduringly powerful. Their instrumental tour de force, “God Can't Take His Eyes Off Me,” is a captivating blend of piano, heavy bass drum, and haunting guitar work. The band is never hesitant to blend sounds together within tracks and the album itself, allowing the listener to graze through the album with intense interest every time. Whether eaststrikewest is going for a metal-infused sound or a soft, enveloping ballad, they are able to nail each sound down and create an extremely enjoyable sensory experience.

Wolvves also features breathtaking strings, layered soundscapes, and an overall progressive approach. While the album seems flawless, its only negative lies in the length of the tracks. First-time, casual listeners might feel like skipping around before they're able to fully comprehend the majesty of each track. Despite the potential lack of accessibility, London band eaststrikewest has mastered an offering of instrumental rock that should definitely be checked out.

-Jessica Reuter