Release Date: July 07th 2023. Record Label: SPM Records. Formats: CD/DD/Vinyl
News From The Invisible World: Tracklisting
1.The Start
2.Shake The Jar
3.Golden Thread
4.Photogenic Love
5.Wonderful
6.Non-Player
7.What A Time To Be Alive
8.Nostalgia Now
Members
Matt Stevens - Guitar, synths, keys, programming.
Steve Cleaton - Guitar, synths, programming.
Kev Feazey - Bass, vocals, synths, keys, programming
Stuart Marshall - Drums, percussion, programming.
Accomplices:
Terry Edwards - Sax, trumpets.
Matt Jones - Piano, keys.
Tom Hunt - Backing vocals.
Tia Bush - Backing vocals.
Lara Callaway - Backing vocals.
Heidi Henders - Backing vocals.
Lorraine Richardson - Backing vocals.
Natalia Stevenson - Backing vocals.
Review:
News From The Invisible World is the new album from UK Psych/Prog/Stoner Rock outfit The Fierce & The Dead. WIth this being their fourth full length record, the band spread their creative wings yet again by employing a more Experimental and Space Rock feel to their music. There’s also a weird narrative style that draws upon bands such King Crimson, TOOL and The Flaming Lips.
You can even say there’s even influences from the 90’s Britpop scene with the vocals and the kookiness of the lyrics that feature on certain stages of the album. However, The Fierce & The Dead are mostly a Progressive and Psychedelic Stoner Rock Band with elements of Shoegaze, Warped Noises and Post-Rock for an album that delves into the weirder aspect of the Hard Rock scene.
The songs are constructed in such a way that Ambient and Electronic Noises are added just for the sheer hell of it which you can experience on the opening few tracks of the album: The Start, Shake The Jar and Golden Thread. The grooves are plentiful with The Fierce & The Dead leaning to a more Experimental Stoner sound with flashes of Weirdo based Electronica, Indie Rock, Alt-Rock and Post-Rock. This is the sort of sound the mainstream press normally goes crazy over but still retains it’s Stoner Rock/Metal underground essence with the eager Fuzz based grooves that has a classic early-era QOTSA approach.
The album does become heavier and more experimental with the darker styles of Prog Rock/Metal that accompany The Fierce & The Dead along the way. News From The Invisible World has a rich and varied style of different vocals throughout the album which does take time to fully get on board with. Though, when everything settles down, the album becomes a more engaging experience especially on songs such as: Photogenic Love, Wonderful and What A Time To Be Alive.
The Fierce & The Dead do show their love and admiration for Porcupine Tree, Amplifier and even Radiohead on this album. Those influences are very easy to find within the songwriting techniques and different vocal styles used for the album. However, not many bands have succeeded brilliantly well by adding a Stoner Rock/Metal twist than The Fierce & The Dead have delivered with this album.
Yeah, it’s complex and utterly bonkers but at the same time, this is also an album that is fucking fearless and a superbly entertaining listen from start to finish.
News From The Invisible World is The Fierce & The Dead’s most complex and astonishing release to date.
Words by Steve Howe
Thanks to The Fierce & The Dead for the promo.
News From The Invincible World will be available to buy on CD/DD/Vinyl from July 28th 2023.
Links:
Official | Facebook | BandCamp
