There’s something deeply satisfying about discovering up-and-coming artists—those whose music carries the raw energy of something still in the process of being fully realized, yet already powerful enough to shake you to the core. It’s that moment when you hear a song for the first time and everything clicks. You instantly know you’ve stumbled upon something special. That pursuit of fresh sounds, that constant search for new, exciting music, is what drives me. It’s what makes this journey so thrilling—because every once in a while, you find an artist who reminds you why you fell in love with music in the first place.
Enter Credible Threat, the Australian project led by guitarist and composer Liam Anderson (interview here). With his latest release, Ephemeral Joy, Anderson crafts a knotty and enchanting auditory experience, blending progressive, metal, alternative, electronic, ambient, and atmospheric elements into something that defies easy categorization. From the moment the album kicks off with “The Gradient Returns,” it’s clear Anderson is aiming for more than just a collection of songs—he’s in a constant ebb and flow of both intensity and soul-searching.
What sets Credible Threat apart from the growing pool of post/progressive/experimental artists out there? Anderson writes songs that continue to evolve, growing in stature even when it feels like there’s no room for more. The riffs are thunderous from the first note, yet they continuously escalate, cleverly employing contrasting moments of ambient passages to lull you into a false sense of security. Additionally, Anderson strikes the perfect balance between raw metal energy and production perfection, imbuing each track with pure emotion, which translates to exceptional sound across every speaker you own.
“Abomasum Depths” shatters your peace with an artillery barrage of riffs and unsettling dissonance. The following track, “Pseudo Poetry,” creates an amazing esoteric atmosphere with Anderson’s guitar before he plunges back into the heavy riffs of “Idle Hands (Guilty Conscience),” injecting rocket fuel into the emotional charge. Some of the more subdued moments on Ephemeral Joy showcase top-tier technical musicianship, while the rockier sections, though simpler, display an undeniable cohesion. As we approach the album’s climax, “Drown in Comfort” is introduced with ambient guitar doodling, bringing Ephemeral Joy to a stunning close.
Liam Anderson’s songwriting on Ephemeral Joy is impeccable, and the production is massive, allowing each instrument to shine on its own. But perhaps most importantly, Anderson continues to craft music that feels organic and free-flowing. If you’re a fan of ambient post-metal with progressive metal elements, Ephemeral Joy is a must-listen.
Ephemeral Joy is out now and is available on Bandcamp. Follow Credible Threat on Instagram.
Anderson strikes the perfect balance between raw metal energy and production perfection, imbuing each track with pure emotion, which translates to exceptional sound across every speaker you own.
