Every so often a project crosses into my periphery that I feel instantly compelled to explore. Or, rather, completely immerse myself in. Enter Pipe Dreamer. For those unfamiliar, and you’d be forgiven if that were the case, this Florida-based project is probably best described as post-metal. But that level of categorization is… too simple, as you’ll quickly come to realize just as I did. On June 12 they’ll release their new EP, The Past Is Just A Memory, and within it you’ll find emotionally-charged complexities that are fully worth that immersion. Musically it’s quite the journey, and all of the different forms it takes are well-crafted, but it’s the honest and reflective expression driven by these passages that you’ll inevitably connect with most.

At the outset we’re eased – actually more like lured – into The Past Is Just A Memory with the introspection of “The Man He Was is Dead” and “Past the Point of No Return”. The chilling, echoing vocals of the former preface the burden felt in the dense growls of the latter, an effortless transition carried by piercing guitar work as the rest of the sound builds in weight and in added layers. But not necessarily in pace. The cadence remains steady, leaving plenty of room for these ideas to expand, settle, and ultimately resonate. At this point Pipe Dreamer have already created an environment that feels pensive and tense, but the (relatively) approachable structure they utilize ensures it is something we’re able and willing to get lost in.

All of that proves to be necessary because from here things start to evolve, and not unobtrusively at times. “Is What She Would’ve Wanted” is pure anguish in the barked lyrics and pounding rhythms, while the leads, albeit less prominent than before, manage to keep things grounded. When the pace does eventually hit a thundering roll in these middle stages everything still feels appropriately cohesive, with the persistence of the distant storm serving as the perfect supplement. By the time we reach “A Simple Request is Made (One More Day)” it all seems to really culminate – all of the musical ideas, and yes, all of the emotions. Starting at a point of somber desperation, this message becomes one of defiance. It steadily grows in intensity before erupting in a crashing crescendo at the closing stages, reinforcing the same plea over and over again in as many different ways as it can muster. It’s a release of the built up tension that resolves with the spoken lines of “Memory Remains”, offering additional context around this emotional strife and helping close the chapter on this particular story.

In all, The Past Is Just A Memory almost seems to condense the rawest of emotions to a singular point before releasing them in a number of different directions. Viewed from overhead, these resulting twists and turns that Pipe Dreamer take here may seem ambitious. But the more you absorb this, and the more you let it absorb you, the more sense it all makes. Vulnerability and self-reflection are embedded in each note and lyric with unquestioned authenticity, and it’s apparent that deep care went into the end presentation. The result is a product that feels creatively unrestrained yet still inherently easy to connect with, a balance that is only possible with a certain level of skill in both musicianship and storytelling. So if this is where Pipe Dreamer are at now… I just can’t wait to see what lies ahead next.

“Ein Bier… bitte.”
– cmb

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The Past Is Just A Memory is out on June 12. For more information and to stay connected to Pipe Dreamer, be sure to follow them on Instagram or Facebook.