As a fan of metal, I’ve noticed how many artists follow a similar trajectory: start a band, tour until you hate life, then either fade into obscurity or pray you earned enough nostalgia points to be a tribute act. There’s nothing wrong with either path. I often wonder where certain bands went while enjoying others who should’ve retired 20 years ago. But it’s usually predictable. The same can’t be said for Jacob Ware, also known as Rapt, especially on his latest album Until the Light Takes Us.
Ware entered the music world as the founding bassist in the UK black metal band, Enslavement. Releasing several albums of unrelenting, audio violence, Enslavement was a brutal mix of Obituary and Cannibal Corpse. But even with all of the visceral attacks against the proverbial system, black metal doesn’t offer an ideal platform to bare one’s soul. By taking on the mantle of Rapt, Ware’s solo endeavors would find him exploring various soundscapes from ambient to folk.
While there’s no denying Until the Light Takes Us is a folk record, Rapt is less concerned with genre as he is feeling.
From the opening instrumental “Over Aged Borders,” it’s obvious that Rapt knows how to paint a mental picture. Without a single word, the delicate acoustic guitar evokes feelings of both contentment and devastation. That penchant for storytelling is elevated by his vocal delivery. Ware’s voice switches back and forth from kind and angelic to weary and desperate. He finds value in all of life’s experiences, beautifully showcased in my personal favorite track, “I Will Be My End.”
Titled after the 2008 documentary on the Norwegian black metal scene, Until the Light Takes Us bears zero resemblance to its namesake on a sonic level. Marred by infighting, public violence, and in some cases, murder, the Norwegian black metal scene was volatile and unforgiving. But it also mirrors the human condition. On the surface, we’re born, work, procreate, and die. However, life is found between those checkpoints: The anxiety of growing up, fear of losing what you love, fleeting life, and inevitable death. It may be more nuanced than grinding guitars and guttural howls, but the existential dread remains the same.
Fully understanding the beauty in longing and acceptance is not lost on Jacob Ware.
It’s the kind of album you absorb, not unlike hearing good stories from an old friend or loved one. I don’t know much about Ware’s personal life. But if this record is any indication, I know he has experienced many of the highs and lows this existence can offer. Be it the comforting guitar to the angelic vocals or the heartwarming piano to heartbreaking stories, Until the Light Takes Us is a masterclass in songwriting and performance.
Until the Light Takes Us is available to stream and purchase at Bandcamp.