Samothrace

Samothrace’s debut disc contains four slow-moving songs that average 12 minutes in length, which might make it sound like a difficult trudge. But for listeners who can appreciate an epic journey — including several seismic transitions from crystalline melody to high-volume sludge — Life’s Trade could be a riveting time bender. Bryan L. Spinks’ sporadic vocals aren’t decipherable, but the lyric sheet (You broke these arms/And out poured blood) confirms the anguish that his muffled shouts communicate. The Lawrence-based quartet alternates between shimmering noise and fuzzy drones, occasionally letting a sharp-toned solo cut through a tarry procession of doom-laden blues riffs. First and foremost a heavy, heavy band, Samothrace incorporates post-rock’s emotional release and shoegaze’s prettiness into crusty, uncompromising metal.