Release date: July 12th 2020. Label: Self Released. Format: DD
Blurred Reflections – S/T – Tracklisting
1.Fallen Sun 02:59
2.Green Hallways 02:58
3.Painted Gray 06:13
4.Stars in the Void 02:40
5.Weightless Darkness (instrumental) 03:45
6.Gripped By Something More 05:07
Members
Maurice Eggenschwiler - Everything
Review
Blurred Reflections is the solo project of Maurice Eggenschwiler of Blues Funeral and Sanctus Bellum. Maurice recorded this project during Quarantine and tried his hand at playing different styles of music that he’s not known for playing. The debut EP is a mixture of Prog Rock, Prog Metal, Jazz Rock and inspired by bands such as King Crimson and OPETH.
Whilst not perfect, this EP is quite a captivating and adventurous release that does sound eerie familiar to OPETH’s more recent studio output. Maurice plays everything on this release and provides vocal duties a well. You can feel Maurice deep love and appreciation for 70s Prog Rock and Jazz records. As the EP is more inspired by those type of records than compared to modern day genres or sounds.
The lyrics are good for the most part with a few rough moments here and there. Maurice deserves credit for doing something different to what he’s mostly known for with Blues Funeral. The best parts of the EP is perhaps the instrumental parts. As Maurice plays some epic soothing guitar solos that capture the spirit of the Jazz sound that Maurice puts into this EP.
The best songs on the EP have to be: Fallen Sun, Green Hallways and Gripped By Something More.
The only downside of the EP is that some of the songs just unexpectedly end and feel they were about to go into another direction. However, apart from that minor criticism, Maurice has delivered a superbly entertaining and well-crafted release that shows a different side to him and I’m hoping he releases more material under the Blurred Reflections banner.
Words by Steve Howe
Links:
BandCamp
Release date: July 20th 2020. Label: Fuzzmatazz. Format: DD/Vinyl
Amygdala – Tracklisting
1.Medusa's Spell 06:10
2.Amygdala 07:52
3.All I Want 07:31
4.Dirty Thoughts 06:18
5.Dreamland 08:20
6.Love To My Enemy 07:58
Members
Sven (guitar, vocals)
Andreas (guitar)
Jörg (drums)
Martin (bass-guitar)
Review
Amygdala is the new album from Psychedelic Doom/Stoner Rockers Slow Green Thing and it shows a cool progression since their last album. The album is more “Grunge” orientated compared to their previous albums though the band still play their heavy addictive style of Doom, Sludge and Stoner Metal grooves but with a more Progressive vibe being added within the music and lyrics contained on the album.
The band feel influenced by Alice In Chains especially with the vocals and the lyrics have a Soundgarden approach to them. Slow Green Thing are 4 albums into their musical career and this album portrays band who are getting bigger and better with each subsequent release. They should really be a bigger deal within the Doom/Stoner Metal world.
The opening songs of Medusa’s Spell and Amygdala instantly draw you in with their fantastic riffs and vocal imagery the band run away with genuine excitement and epic Progressive jams that allow the “gloomy” vibe consume everything around it. The music can be quite solitary and claustrophobic at times but there’s something equally mysterious about the overall feel and flow of the album.
Slow Green Thing channel the early and legendary sounds of Alice In Chains superbly well in the early stages of the album before settling down and playing their own blend of Psychedelic Stoner Rock/Metal with songs such as All I Want, Dirty Thoughts and Love To My Enemy being perhaps the strongest and heaviest parts of the album.
Amygdala is firing on all cylinders in the production department with this being perhaps the best record that Slow Green Thing have put out to date. The record is LOUD and BOMBASTIC in all the right places and allows the music to grow and become HEAVIER naturally.
Slow Green Thing have delivered the goods with this album and Amygdala is one that demands many repeated listens.
Excellent and Highly Recommended.
Words by Steve Howe
Links:
Facebook | BandCamp
