After Nations is a hard-hitting quartet whose sound explores the spaces among djent, stoner metal, and heavy post-rock. Through years of DIY releases, US tours, and solidarity with local music scenes and artists around the country, the band has developed a dedicated underground following.
Their latest full-length album, Surface | Essence, traverses the crushing heaviness of djent and sludge, while drawing on the coloring and spaciousness of post-rock. Balancing massive force with moments of quiet contemplation, their sound is one of rhythmic complexity, hypnotic passages, and deep, textured heaviness. Through composition that combines the explosive with the meditative, After Nations continue to simultaneously create and explore a space for themselves in post-metal.
Andrew Elliott - Guitars Travis Baker - Drums Dustin Svoboda - Guitars Ben Chipman - Bass
Nominated for IDIOTEQ’s Post-Metal Album of the Year
"A tidal force of brutality and contemplative calm. It traverses the breadth of heavy sludge, calculated djent, and introspective post-rock, shaped by cyclical motif-building that never loses sight of raw power. It stands as a heavy, dynamic, and hypnotic statement."
~ IDIOTEQ | Karol Kamiński
“… granite-slab heavy…consumed by that feeling you get when you listen to Meshuggah that there’s a very large thing rising up very slowly in front of you and surely you’ll never get out alive.”
~ The Obelisk | JJ Koczan
“… a stunning sonic journey that masterfully blends hypnotic post rock and crushing post-metal.”
~ Last Day Deaf
“This feels like two Gods fighting to the death and then a primordial rebirth.”
~ American Pancake | Robb Donker
"…a masterpiece that deserves to be heard and appreciated by all lovers of progressive metal.”
~ Expansión Radial | Oliver Zurita
"After Nations knows how to raise the level, how to put the listener in a state of contemplation and musical attention. If you are a lover of a good instrumental Metal, with influences of Progressive Metal, Post Metal, Doom Metal and Death Metal, with a richness of detail, technique, which combined with good riffs and great melodies, speed and a lot of versatility, After Nations is the best choice!”
~ Metal Junkbox | André Alonso
Top 10 Post-Rock and Post-Metal Albums of 2022 ~ Post-rock Instrumental
Top 10 Albums of 2022 ~ Prog.Me
“The Endless Mountain is powerful, assertive, and feels like it’s bursting with joyous creative energy. The most apt comparison sonically is probably the djent-drenched prog-metal/post-rock of Cloudkicker, but heavier on the prog and lighter on the atmospherics. High-level stuff that definitely deserves your undivided attention.” ~ Heavy Blog is Heavy | David Zeidler
“…instrumental four-piece After Nations feel as much jazz on “Féin” or “Cae” as they do progressive metal, djent, experimental, or any other tag with which one might want to saddle the resoundingly complex Buddhism-based concept album, The Endless Mountain… it’s immaculately produced and every single second, from “Mons” and “Aon” to “))” and “(),” feels purposeful.” The Obelisk | JJ Koczan
“‘Mons’ and ‘Fein’ go straight for the jugular, chugging along to zany melodies not unlike Ocean Collective or Between the Buried and Me, but with a hair more groove. ‘Aon,’ is chunky too, but throws in a lot of space-y jazz moments that strangely fit right into the prog rock and math categories without even trying.” ~ Fecking Bahamas | Michael Whiteside
“Metal influenced math-rock magnificence.” ~ Postcard Elba
“…heavy style, great atmospheres, and engaging melodies, The Endless Mountain delivers for fans of high quality, technical Post-Rock, and tastefully flirts with Progressive Rock.” ~ Roadie-Metal
“It reminds me of a successful combination and execution of both vintage and modern prog-rock influences in a good balance, with a slightly modern character. They make me hear early Dream Theater as well as Joe Satriani, The Aristocrats (Guthrie Govan), Icefish (Marco Sfogli), and Plini, while also supporting it with math, post, and jazz-rock influences in their musical foundation… The album has all the necessary standards to be considered a great-sounding album, in my humble opinion.
…it’s always a great pleasure discovering another overly talented prog-rock collective making super complicated rock music.” ~ Metalhead Community