Fluxious - Why so Serious?

Indeed

How many famous bands have come out of Switzerland? I think for most people, however knowledgeable, the answer's range would be limited by the number of fingers on (maybe) both hands. My aim with this post, therefore, is to try to get a great new Swiss band noticed, and this week my pick falls on Fluxious, an outstanding female-fronted ensemble with conspicuously eclectic approach to making fun music.

Why so Serious? is something you won't here every day. Fluxious seamlessly combine heavy distorted riffs with funky, jazzy, reggae grooves, avantgarde craziness and progressive technicalities, and manage to produce simply rocking unpretentious music with catchy soloing, guitar licks, and memorable vocal lines. The result here is something that will satisfy both those who look for something original and experimental and will not throw off those who simply want to enjoy the music and don't care for complexity.

This album is heavy and light at the same time, practically every second of it, partly because of the omnipresent audible bass, which compensates for the parts where the guitars are not heavy, partly because of the drumming, which is generally very easy-going. The vocals are clean but generally have a harsher edge to them, but capable of conveying a wide range of emotions.

In the end, Why so Serious? is an album to have fun to. One might have to get accustomed to the heavy, bass-dominated sound, but it should not take too long to discover all the great hooks that Fluxious discharge either through vocals (the chorus of "Voodoo Mood"), guitars (great hooks on pretty much every song) or bass (the slap bass on "Games'n'Trials" and the chorus on "Unfair to You"). They deliver on every front.

Make sure to check these cats out, who are for me one of the most enjoyable discoveries this year.

Magnus - Magnus

Muddy the Riff Monster

Magnus are part of the underground scene in Fort Worth, TX. There is a tragic story behind the music on this album as the original guitarist/vocalist passed away in 2003, and the band went on hiatus till 2007. His demo vocal recordings can still be heard along with the vocals of Kenneth Thompson, who also plays the bass.

Now to the music itself...

Magnus' self-titled is a riff-based juggernaut with pounding bass and groovy restless drumming. The overall sound is very misleading: the production seems somewhat garagey, but somehow every component is still very clear and apparent, especially the bass, which stands out in a very subtle way. To describe Magnus’ self-titled, two words are really needed: riff storm. And indeed, the mighty riff is in the heart of this release… the mighty ever-changing, ever-shifting riff.

Overall there is a lot of sludgy groove, which is just fun listening to, but it’s not all that simple. The tracks are quite dynamic and even neurotic in the way the parts change each other, but at the same time Magnus do not go over the top with technicalities making them very listenable and easy-going. The exception would be the last track, which builds up for five minutes and only then bursts into a chaotic, psychedelic and also, in some oxymoronic way, soothing delirium. The rare occasions, on which vocals appear, could be described as shrieks of a desperate madman, which complement the sludgy atmosphere in a most suitable way.

To listen to the album, go by this link and behold the rise of the riff-monster.

The band has changed the name to Unraveler. Follow them on Facebook.

Opeth - Heritage

Carpe Diem!

 

I can't help but admire Opeth, especially the brave genius of Mikael Akerfeldt that stands behind its creative force, and Heritage is its latest embodiment. It sounds like nothing that Opeth has ever done and at the same time it is everything. The form is very different, but the content is full of undeniably Opethian spirit. As the band members have numerously mentioned, the new album is a musical heritage, not only of Opeth's past achievements, but also the music that Mikael likes, e.g. the evident presence of 70's prog and classic rock and, as others have noted, Swedish folk music, which I am not yet familiar with.

This new child of Opeth is not a perfect album, but it is a blow of fresh air; it is daring. One must be free indeed to delete forever two ready songs similar in style to Watershed (and that's what Mikael did) and yield himself to what one's heart is telling him. Free, daring, and independent, this is what this album is, but also utterly original and surprising.

It will take a few spins to start appreciating Heritage, but those spins will take one on an exiting journey. Yes, it will hurt a little at the beginning, but once the mind opens, an entire new world will unravel to discover and explore. Dare to do it.

Echoes - Nature|Existence

Amazing debut from Venezuela

Echoes' Nature|Existence is simply an epitome of prog, which reminds one of the numerous great prog metal bands: Dream Theater, Pain of Salvation, Riverside, Symphony X, Evergrey etc.; nevertheless, one does not get the feeling of stale imitation. These guys are amazing composers, who have collaborated with talented vocalists to create this epic stellar monster, with songs that will not leave you indifferent: great instrumentals and tunes with deep emotional vocals. If you somehow missed Demonic Tutor's review of the album, do yourself a favor and check it out, and then get hold of this piece of art!