Alarmist - Pal Magnet EP (2013)

Alarmist are an instrumental math-rock / post-rock band from Dublin, Ireland.

Before releasing "Pal Magnet EP" in November 2013, they released their self-titled debut album in August 2011.

These guys have some clever arrangements and play math-rock that outpaces the Super Mario theme (I''m sure "PG Films" was influenced by Nintendo) by far.

This is not a typical math-rock band. They are much more emotional and use more pedals than most MR bands. They have jazzy influences by all means and some catchy and hook-lines that will surely carry you away - just start listening with the opening song "Aztec Dreams". You'll know what I mean.

Their bizarre style and their very different use of effect pedals make them unique to me.
They are supposed to be a fuckin' tight live band. Let's hope they come over to Germany one day and I'll get the proof.

Enough said. Enjoy the album and don't forget to support the band by buying their stuff and sharing their music!

http://alarmist.bandcamp.com/album/pal-magnet-ep
https://www.facebook.com/alarmistband

Psychojet - Flights (2013)

Psychojet was an instrumental post-rock / math-rock band from Ireland. Before releasing "Flights" in August 2013 as a farewell present to their fans, they released their debut album "The Sea is Never Full" in 2012.

Just like Wander from the post before, I found these guys on bandcamp when I was looking for some new music.

Though Flights is just a short two track EP with 8 minutes of duration, I have the feeling they play more riffs on there than most other post-rock bands on an 1 hour album. Their sound is very dry, just few effect pedals like some delay, reverb and maybe a little boosting overdrive are used.

The first track named "Swansong" starts with an enthusiastic guitar riff that gets more and more layers with every repetition until they release it with a big "WHOOO" and the whole band joins in with main focus on the powerful played drums.
On the following guitar line, which always reminds me of one of my favourite bands "The Samuel Jackson Five", I have to grab my air guitar and play along. There's no way around.
Now delay and reverb set in, jazzy drums underlay these atmospheric guitar lines.
Then the whole things stops - a new hook line starts right up that quickly finds its climax with a fancy dub beat. The last few seconds of the song go by in a heartbeat. Then I press the replay button and start over again.
"Epic Succeed" starts like a song from Japanese math-rockers "LITE". Neatly tapped guitars and unusual accentuation make you wanna hear more of that song. A melodious bass line introduces the listener to the next part where heavy distorted guitars accompany with catchy eighth single note picks.
The drums are precise and heavy. Headbanging inevitable.
This theme lasts until the end of the song.

A pity, I never had the chance to see these guys perform live. Perhaps, when they read this, they find back together again.


Make sure to check them out. If you like it, don't hesitate to support the band by buying and/or sharing their music!

http://psychojet.bandcamp.com/
https://www.facebook.com/psychojetband

Wander - Mourning (2014)

First of all - please don't wonder.
This is my first ever blog. I'm not very familiar with blogging and that kind of stuff at all.

The first one I'd like to introduce you to, is a band called Wander. I found their album Mourning by accident when I was looking for some new music on bandcamp.

Wander is a US based post-rock / shoegaze band from Oakland. Before Mourning in January 2014, they already released Short Story Collection in January 2013.


Mourning is a very special album to me. Already after listening to the first 30 seconds of the intro song "Calamity", I knew I have to love this album. I haven't heard that fast-paced, catchy and powerful post-rock for a long time. This song is very progressive from the beginning until the end. It beats the shit out of you in a beautiful way and makes you wanna drive fast in your car (oh yes!).
The second track on the album is called "Youth". It's a more down-tempo, well arranged, but - for my taste - pretty common post-rock song that starts very calm and ends up with mighty guitar walls. It makes you settle down a little before the third song "Soar" kicks you back on the German Autobahn.
"Soar" is very progressive and vivid. I love the drumming and all that guitar tinsel on it. The only negative thing about this song is: it's over before it started.
While you are in the process of listening, probably you won't even recognize that the next song already started.
To me, "Soar" and "Oblivion" belong together, both rhythm and melody have the same intensity, pace and pitch. The riff on the beginning of the song (which also is repeated a couple of times) works perfectly as an interlude from the prior track. The drum rolls let even the the slow and quiet parts sound fast.
"Farewell" is again the more typical post-rock song. It's slow, starts calm and rises up to a huge climax. The band somehow made it to combine desolate verses with a quite cheery chorus. This works pretty well.
Following "Valor" will be haunting you after listening to it a couple of times. It's strewn with fast tom-tom rolls and very catchy choruses. That little gimmick in the second part of the chorus (when the band stops for one bar and only one guitar plays - and then they all come back together) always makes me head-bang - even when I'm at work and people can see me. Good habit.
The final track "Mourning" which the whole album is named after, truly is a 15 minutes epic.
It's peppered with beautifully sad and festive themes, a lot of reverb, delay and shimmer.
Nice arrangements, lots of ups and downs make this song interesting despite its length. Post-rock listeners among you readers are used to that anyway :)

With the final minute of the last song, the big party is over. The remainder of guests slowly starts the way back home completely boozed. Then you switch off the light.

All together, this album isn't original. But this is not what I expect an album to be. It's a successful mixture of post-rock, shoegaze and heavy drumming. There aren't many albums that are both powerful and fast-paced just like this one. This makes it special to me.

But why not making your own opinion about it?
Go check it out on their bandcamp or on the player below!


If you like it, don't hesitate to support the band by buying and/or sharing their music!

https://www.facebook.com/wakingwander
http://wanderband.bandcamp.com/