Wednesday, 5 August 2015

GIZA - Migration (Album Review)


Release date: August 1st 2015. Label: Self Released. Formats: DD/Vinyl

Migration: Tracklisting

1.Cenotaph 05:41
2.Hashteroid 07:24
3.Strawberry Caviar 05:18
4.March Of The High Priests 13

Band Members:

Richard Burkett - Guitar
Steve Becker - Bass
Justin Rodda - Drums

Review:

Instrumental Sludge/Stoner Metallers – GIZA – return with their 3rd record – Migration and it carries on their highly adventurous sound laid down on the previous albums. The album runs for about 32 mins in length and features 4 heavy slices of finely tuned instrumental rock music that blends Sludge, Stoner, Doom and Post-Metal for one exciting and addictive listen.

Opening track – Cenotaph – opens with a simple acoustic guitar riff before Giza unleash a barrage of heavy progressive noises as the mood becomes slightly volatile. The bass-heavy and down-tempo riffs are played at a slow pace but that gives GIZA time to create fantastic spaced out synths and noises with the guitars adding a real menacing vibe. The drumming is another highlight with drummer – Justin – playing perfectly timed beats and with confidence to match. The song runs for 6 mins but the time flies as GIZA open the flood-gates to a spaced out and trippy sonic delight.

Second track – Hashteriod – carries on the sci-fi surroundings with another round of tripped out, down-tempo guitars and pounding drums with bassist – Steve – now being given the chance to shine. As his bass playing becomes the main focus of the song. The song is a strange hybrid of Sludge, Doom, Stoner, Psych and Noise with GIZA offering a fresh take on all things Instrumental Rock/Metal. Migration sees GIZA venture further into the realm of space rock as you become part of the action. GIZA speed things up dramatically with different noises and effect before the unexpected and brilliant jazz based drumming that comes out of nowhere. WOW – is all I can say about the end of that song. I wasn’t expecting that at all.

Third track – Strawberry Caviar – may have a strange title for an album such as this but you can’t deny GIZA’s wicked sense of humour. Though, the music is where it counts as GIZA has created another finely tuned slice of cosmic based sludge rock. It’s played at a slow pace but around the 3 minute mark GIZA feels they’ve transported a mini-orchestra into space as the sound becomes HUGE and I mean HUGE. Different noises and riffs combine once again for a song that feels like the world is about to meet it’s impending doom. It’s cinematic on a grand scale.

Fourth track – March Of The High Priests – could be called after a wide range of classic sci-fi themed novels. The track opens with distorted and droned out noises set against a distant church bell ringing in the background. It carries on for a few minutes before GIZA decide to finally appear with the hazy and psychedelic sludge/stoner sounding guitars. And then you hear vocals. On a GIZA record. No way. You hear dreamy, tripped out vocals courtesy of Seattle based Irene Barber (who also plays with Dust Moth, Erik Blood). Irene’s vocals add a more sombre atmosphere to the song as you can feel the pain and intensity from Irene’s brief vocal delivery. The song becomes very surreal at times with Irene’s superb vocals and the slow tripped out guitars. It’s still a heavy Sludge/Stoner Metal affair with GIZA creating one of their finest songs to date.

March Of The High Priests is worth for the purchase of the album alone as the song ends on a loud and almost violent end. The instrumental work is flawless through out though I have to say Irene is the standout star on this song. I wonder if GIZA will add a vocalist to the band in the future as it works brilliantly well on the last song. Could be the sign of things to come.

All in all, Migration is GIZA’s finest work to date. Check it out now!!!

Migration is now available to buy on DD/Vinyl.

Words by Steve Howe

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