Release
date: August 25th 2017. Label: Magnetic Eye Records. Format:
CD/DD/Vinyl
Genkaku
– Tracklisting
1.Smile
2.Uncool
3.Virgin Witch
4.Space Wizard
5.Hallucination
6.Twilight
7.Sinister Waves
Band
Members
Dale Crover - Drums
Trevor Dunn - Bass
Buzz Osborne -
Vocals and Lyrics on Tracks 1 and 4
Toshi Kasai -
Vocals, Fx and Guitar on Track 4
AAL - Guitars,
Vocals
EHA - Guitars, Lead
Vocals
Review
LowFlyingHawks makes a welcome
return with Genkaku. LowFlyingHawks released a monumentally
stunning and heavy album almost two years ago with Kōfuku. On that
album multi-instrumentalists AAL and EHA were helped on their sonic
quest by Dale Crover and Trevor Nunn of the legendary group The
Melvins.
Their debut album was produced by Toshi Kasai. Now the band
have returned with those key people intact but this time they have
brought King Buzzo along for the ride and he provides his incredible
talents to some of the albums best moments on Smile and Space Wizard.
Though I'm getting ahead of myself.
Genkaku is a different sounding
album compared to their debut album. As that album was more drone
based compared to this one. Genkaku sees the band stepping back from
the drone based noises and opting for a more riff driven affair. As
LowFlyingHawks deliver a more involving highly emotional affair.
Opening track - Smile - is a
psychedelic sludge/doom/noise rock odyssey with the vocals being
remarkably heartfelt and full of remorse. The lyrics are quite
emotional with the music containing dark moments of gloomy riffs. The
distorted sounds from their debut album make a welcome return but are
played for minimal effect in the background. King Buzzo makes an
appearance on this track and you his razor sharp vocals add a more
decidedly heavier approach. The song becomes heavier and perhaps more
Melvins sounding for the first time. Though LowFlyingHawks main
members still hold their own against their famous pals.
Second track - Uncool - opens with a
distorted heavy guitar riff with drums being added at a very slow
pace. The psych based sounds come swirling into the background and
the vocals echo from far way. The song is a twisted and melodic
version of Sludge/Stoner Rock with elements of Doom and Noise keeping
the mood going. The album has a more progressive edge than their
debut album and this song ranks as another one of the albums standout
tracks.
Genkaku is a very dark album and the
first two songs deliver on that promise with supreme confidence. The
next two tracks Virgin Witch and Space Wizard - move the album into
heavier sludge/doom waters with the band settling into a confident
rhythm as Virgin Witch has some of the albums bleakest lyrical
content with the music being the star attraction yet again.
Space Wizard sees King Buzzo making
another appearance on the album and they create the albums standout
track. The song does indeed have a familiar spaced out sound with
moments of harsh distorted riffs. The vocals are once again moved to
the background with them becoming the centrepiece of the song as time
passes by.
The final three songs on the album -
Hallucination, Twilight and Sinister Waves follow the same musical
path with LowFlyingHawks sticking to a winning formula. They do try
their hand at heavier riffs as the album stays remarkably exciting
and fresh. Even down to the last final moments with the band leaving
you wanting more. Genkaku is a very hard album to describe as LowFlyingHawks play so many elements of different music.
It's a much more accessible record
than their debut album but it still manages to be a complex and dark
sounding album. The production with Toshi Kasai involved is first
rate. As Toshi brings up distinctive noises to the forefront of the
album as only Toshi can.
Genkaku is one of the most daring
and best albums of the year.
Words by Steve
Howe
Thanks to Magnetic Eye
for the promo. Genkaku will be released on CD/DD/Vinyl via MagneticEye Records from August 25th 2017.
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