ALBUM REVIEW: Wychhound, "Earth Orbiter"

By: David Jupp

Album Type: Full Length

Date Released: 01/05/2018

Label: Independent

The many audio-faces that tell the story of ‘Earth Orbiter’ are proof, that if instrumental music is judged right, executed well, and arranged with craft, riffs beat words. Every damn time.

“Earth Orbiter” DD track listing:

1). Flux

2). Supercluster

3). Comet Shoemaker – Levy 9 (SL-9)

4). Aurora

5). Matter – Antimatter Annihilation

The Review:

When a band parts company with their singer, the ensuing discussion generally goes something like this. ‘Fuck! It won’t be the same man, someone else singing those songs. They might as well pack it in.’ Well in 2017 and only two years on from their debut EP, Wychhounddid just this by saying farewell to singer Jimmy Holifield. Rather than start the depressing trudge through London’s abundance of awful singers, the band decided to strike out on a new path as an instrumental four-piece. Shedding the crutches a vocalist provides in both immediacy and structure is a brave decision, and especially risky when you already have an established following who expect ‘songs.’ So, as Wychhound set forth on a new journey the question is, can they fill the yawning void left by words?

‘Earth Orbiter’sets flight to a wall of feedback. As the pressure builds and ‘Flux’ ignites, Wychhound let fly with a barrage of strings, cymbals and skins. It soon becomes clear how the wordless quartet intend on bringing their old fans with them, and to be honest it’s the oldest trick in the book. Big riffs. Lots of them. Really fast. Before you even reach the minute mark Wychhoundhave twisted their audio-rubix-cube three times. Twist one, swaggering math-groove. Twist two, euphoric chord progression. Twist again, Toolinflected grunge-swerve. As minute two lands guitarist Miles Mcdonald swaggers in with a howling solo and boots the whole metaphor out the window. Singers? Pfft.

The success of instrumental heavy music revolves around a bands ability to judge phrasing. Without lyrics to convey a message you are left with the subtle art of assembling meaning from a jigsaw of riffs. It’s like the best kind of sign language, hold a riff out for too long and the listener grows bored, take it away too quickly and the message is lost. Track two ‘Supercluster’ serves as an advanced elocution lesson in riff-annunciation. Guitarist Roberto Pini kicks things off with a superb off-kilter riff before Mcdonald laces another emotive lead into the fray. Just as the narrative begins to wane bass player Neil Neighbour and drummer Sid Nagdhi grab the track by the low-end and spread a stuttering bang all over it.

Having seen Wychhound cultivate the seeds of these songs across a variety of London’s venues in the last year I must admit that when I first saw the artwork for the record I didn’t really get it. Don’t get me wrong the art looks great but I didn’t quite see what a planet of faces had to do with the songs I had heard.

Named after a comet that broke apart in 1992 and collided with Jupiter, ‘Comet Shoemaker – Levy 9 (SL-9)’s seven-minutes of aching slow-dawn soon provide me with the artworks meaning. Wychhound are a band with many faces. Just as the opening act of the record’s focus sharpens into a prog-metal guise the second movement softens into soaring arpeggiated post-rock.

Great records are made in small increments. The stunning arpeggio that permeates ‘Comet...’sskyline progression is beautiful enough, but exceptional bands always reach for that extra percent. So, as Mcdonald’s triads arc into the records second half, Roberto Pini’s haunting e-bow adds that last extra lift and I challenge anyone not to crane their neck and sigh.

Next up is ‘Aurora.’ Until now Wychhound’ssophomore effort has worn its influences on its sleeve and that doesn’t stop here. Tool, Russian Circles, early Barrows and “Zidane”-era Mogwai have all stirred in places, but now Elder’stotemic influence on the contemporary heavy landscape looms into view. Luckily Wychhoundhave no intention of merely paying homage and as the Bostontrio’s ‘SpiresBurn/Release’ EP flickers in the distance the band re-apply their riff-sculpture and successfully carve another fresh face into the records strata.

‘Matter – Antimatter Annihilation’ brings the album to a close and makes a welcome return to the cinematic melodies of ‘Comet Shoemaker.’ As the spiralling guitar-runs that litter ‘Earth Orbiter’ arch back and dive into another surging chord sequence all fears of a loss of narrative are expelled and the record re-enters the atmosphere on a surge of hefty tone. 

In the last year Wychhound have become a staple of London’s burgeoning heavy-scene. So, by making the decision to record ‘Earth Orbiter’ live, I’m glad to say they have successfully captured the ebb, flow, movement and act that make their live show so popular. What’s more impressive however, is the successful progression from traditional stoner band into a new instrumental landscape. In music, just because a choice is brave doesn’t necessarily mean it is right, so in shedding their singer Wychhoundcould have easily gotten lost in a sea of riffs that lacked narrative. Luckily the many audio-faces that tell the story of ‘Earth Orbiter’ are proof, that if instrumental music is judged right, executed well, and arranged with craft, riffs beat words. Every damn time.

“Earth Orbiter” is available here

Band info: bandcamp|| facebook

ALBUM REVIEW: Forming The Void - "Relic"

By: David Jupp

Album Type: Full Length

Date Released: 17/03/2017

Label: Argonauta Records (CD) |

Lonestar Records (LP)

In a genre creaking under the weight of its own familiarity Forming the Void have built something exceptional that stands apart. ‘Relic’ is a record that will long outlast its creators and live on, forming the foundations, of future sludge-monuments.

“Relic” CD//DD//LP track listing:

1.After Earth

2.The Endless Road

3.Bialozar

4.Relic

5.The Witch

6.Plumes

7.Unto the Smoke

8.Kashmir

The Review:

There must be a point during the writing process for a record, when a band realise they have stumbled across something special. Whether mid jam at rehearsal or in the isolation of a low-lit lounge, when these threads of brilliance choose to offer themselves a bands collective heart must surely quicken. It is then just the small matter of following each thread home to its cohesive whole. Taken in its entirety, Louisiana four-piece Forming the Void’s second album ‘Relic’evokes a wealth of these ‘imagine being there when they wrote that’ moments.

The seven songs and one cover that make up album number two form a tapestry of contemporary influences that include Baroness, Tooland Soundgarden. But oddly, ‘Relic’ still seems an apt name. A relic is defined as an object that survives from an earlier time, and Forming the Void’s sophomore effort is certainly imbibed with an ancient and timeless quality. This is especially notable in its slower more atmospheric interludes, but there is also an ever-present driving yell to its heavier passages that conjures images of tribal charge.

The record opens with ‘After Earth’ and immediately implements the aforementioned approach. Setting forth with a shamanic and droned exchange between galloped toms and minimal guitar-flutter, this summoning soon bears blackened fruit as a huge wave of sludge crashes in on your already craned audio-neck. Similarly, to Vokonis’recent standout ‘The Sunken Djinn’ this mass of tone requires an impressive vocal and James Marshall’s layered war-yell doesn’t disappoint. In fact, the heft of the vocals on ‘Relic’ consistently add girth to the records overall spine. The lyrics evoke equally epic themes with Marshallcalling across the years. ‘Roam, beside the dead. Time unwinding.’

A large swathe of ‘Relic’draws on paths well-trodden but each time a dejected sigh might flicker in your throat the band find an extra few percent, be it through delivery or craft. Track two ‘Endless Road’ extracts this differentiation via Marshall’s vocal. The riffs are solid but the combination of Luke Baker’s undertow bass and Marshall’s bellow transform the ordinary into the special.

Next up trudging Miamistalwarts Torcherear their heads. ‘Bialozar’ wouldn’t be out of place on ‘Neanderthal’ with its fusion of vocal harmony and Thomas Colley’s skull-fuck snare. Again though, instead of massaging another band’s sound Forming the Void take a potion to the vein and inject something extra. This time round, the lyrics that supplement the battle cry provide the albums stand out moment. ‘Wings spread, over the mountain.’ I challenge any connoisseur of heavy music not to contort their face at this point. It’s just outrageously good.

Title track ‘Relic’ is up next and its initial two minutes offer the first whiff of a stall in momentum. Luckily just as the blueprint begins to feel a tad familiar the band cast war-paint all over it with a four-minute, Tool inspired grind.

‘The Witch’ follows and immediately picks up the pace with the Louisiana quartets admiration for Baronessraging into view. The song is a perfect example of the application of craft. There is nothing particularly new about the execution but somehow the charging whole erases all memory of its dull set of parts.

Track six‘Plumes’ offers the records only real misfire. There is perhaps an element of taste at play here though. ‘Plumes’would fit perfectly on Torche’s latest record ‘Restarter.’ For me that record missed the mark. There is something about a tempo that is neither slow enough for a half-time bang, or fast enough for horns that just doesn’t grab me.

Fortunately, penultimate offering ‘Unto the Smoke’ restores maximum worthy with an 8-minute testament to everything that makes melodic sludge so good. The driving crash and yell make a welcome return as do their symbiotic and shamanistic lulls.

‘Relic’scurtain falls in a slightly bizarre manner. By covering one of Led Zeppelin’smost iconic songs I can’t help but feel that Forming the Void succeed in breaking a spell they’ve toiled so hard to conjure. It’s a decent cover but it just feels out of place on a record with such a pronounced identity and narrative. It plays like a well-executed after-thought that is perhaps better left for the live stage.

Ill-judged covers aside, with ‘Relic’ Forming the Void have taken a familiar set of materials and carved something fresh. One of the beautiful things about music is that it’s timeless, it’s forever. In a genre creaking under the weight of its own familiarity Forming the Void have built something exceptional that stands apart. ‘Relic’is a record that will long outlast its creators and live on, forming the foundations, of future sludge-monuments.

“Relic” is available here

Band info: Facebook|| Bandcamp

ALBUM REVIEW: Truckfighters - "V"

By: Kat Hilton

Album Type: Full Length
Date Released: 30/09/2016
Label: Fuzzorama Records |
Century Media Records

All in all, a solid offering; a sound that is current; one that rocks effortlessly and one that proves regardless of line-up changes Truckfighters continue to be strong.

“V” CD//DD//LP Track listing

01. Calm Before The Storm

02. Hawkshaw

03. The 1

04. Gehenna

05. The Contract

06. Fiend

07. Storyline

The Review:

With just 7 tracks lasting a smudge over 47 minutes and fresh drummer blood; Truckfightersoffer their fifth studio album, “V”(I see what you did there you sneaky sods), a journey on their evolutionary path towards maturity that requires one to switch off pre conceptions, ideas and judgement and requires the plugging in of headphones and a nice chilled beverage of choice.

Having said that in all honesty “Calm Before the Storm” left me underwhelmed, I still cannot pinpoint why, it shouldn’t have done. With its Tool-esque intro, swarthy attitude and an ending which is fuzzier than a tumble dryer’s lint trap I should have loved it but it wobbled me a little. Fear ye not! “Hawkshaw” is the second little ditty and quite frankly knocks the spots of the previous number. A powerful bass and drum intro eases the lugholes to an immense fuzz injection that hits the spot superbly. With ever flowing peaks and troughs of 0-100 mph in seconds it is Truckfighersmastery.    

As track 3, “The 1”, makes its way through there is another line-up change with Peter Damin taking the drums; although subtle, there is a difference- believe it or not more cymbals…who knew that was possible! “The 1” is a classic Truckfigthersnumber; slightly distorted vocals, smooth riffs and an ear blowing assault of a chorus make it so. For the energy alone it is a clear contender for stand out song of the album. “Gehenna” the fuzz gives way to possibly the most satisfying drum roll in existence making this a veritable time warp of a tune; turning back time it is akin to listening to “Gravity X” all over again. Ok so not as prog like, but the mesmerising vocals and pacey guitar stand it proud.

As “The Contract” makes its debut with its thundering bass/drum play off building the track to the properly heavy levels needed; the thick and fuzzy strings crawl over the senses entwining with the chaotic drums, it kinda shouldn’t work but it does. It be prog/sludge/fudge/aceballness.

“Fiend”is the penultimate track; cheeky, pacey and even more drum rolling perfection make this a fantastic number. Off all the superbly vocalised songs Ozo has done, this is the one that demonstrates the incredible range and versatility he has. The ending can only be described as a co-ordinated pissing contest as the sound increases, the drums hammer more, the vocals step up, the guitars get beefier. Everything makes this a superb ending.

Last but no means least “Storyline” has an instant shift in style and sound; the vocals are the dominant force here. Melodious, gravelly and solid. On one hand an easy, relaxed and somewhat calm offering, on the other a hard core Truckfighters number that shakes the listener to the core. What a delicious juxtaposition.  All in all, a solid offering; a sound that is current; one that rocks effortlessly and one that proves regardless of line-up changes Truckfighterscontinue to be strong.

“V” is available here

Band info: official || facebook