ALBUM REVIEW: Major Kong - "Brace for Impact"

By: Ernesto Aguilar

Album Type: Full length

Date Released:04/09/2017

Label: Independent

 

Poland's Major Kong tests the limits of music with its new recording, "Brace for Impact." The eight-song release is entirely instrumental and rooted in a science fiction theme. Heady indeed, but Major Kong give you a dense, impressive album regardless.

 

“Brace for Impact” CD//DD// track listing

1. Surrounded by Hypno-Creatures

2. Synaptic Failure

3. Transdimensional Holiday

4. Quantum Elephantum

5. Brace for Impact

6. Gravity Boots

7. Rapid Star Formation

8. Return to the Holodeck

The Review:

Extreme music, like all music, is entirely subjective in experience. Insofar as what that leader can do behind the microphone, that is just as subjective. However, the emotions that bring out of an audience, the passion they stir in their band mates and their ability to make a song memorable inarguably fuel the mystique of any musician.

What happens to that feeling when there is no lead? Without a singer, many of us wonder about direction. So when there is no focal point, it stands to reason that the music itself has to be quite remarkable

Poland's Major Kongtests the limits of music with its new recording, "Brace for Impact." The eight-song release is entirely instrumental and rooted in a science fiction theme. Heady indeed, but Major Konggive you a dense, impressive album regardless.

The group debuted in 2012 with the EP "Orogenesis"and then 2014's "Doom for the Black Sun" and another full length, "Doom Machine," the same year. In 2015 Major Kong issued a split 12" with Dopelordand their  "Galactic Cannibalism" EP. Then there was a 2016 EP, "Brave New Kong." You get the picture: prolific. Taking off a year as the band must feel like a lifetime.

Fortunately, "Brace for Impact" seems like its members have not lost a step.

The previous albums "Doom for the Black Sun" and "Doom Machine" seemed to tell a story of global annihilation and sidebar tales of it. The listener will soon gather that the title of the latest release is a space reference instead of one connoting violence. Where you might hunger for a story behind the titles, let the music itself present a soundtrack for your imagination to figure out exactly what the concept may be. The open, "Surrounded by Hypno-Creatures,"begins with what could be the crank of an equipment failure, wandering out into a languorous spin, then delibrateness to its climax. Is it desperation? Feverish intention? Maybe letting the emotion take over is the best part.

The sharp interludes and twists the music takes make for what feels like one hell of a story. There are strong hints of alien life in the titles, and even in the intense guitars. Plodding cuts like "Gravity Boots" and the urgency of "Return to the Holodeck" suggest escape… from captivity or what, we may never know. Major Kong is simply exuberant in its scene setting. Without a single word, you get an exhilarating ride of a recording, start to finish.

Given their pace for recording, Major Kong could issue more music this year. One can only wish, like the "Doom" series, there is more in store for this magnificent arc.

"Brace for Impact" is available here

Band info: bandcamp || facebook