Mew - Am I Wry? No
Mew are an odd commodity. At once overwhelming, atmospheric, epic, catchy, memorable; but also somehow consoling and comforting. The elements taken from genres such as shoegaze and progressive rock become obvious from the outset. Also pleasant to know is unlike so many bands, they are incredibly consistent with their productions, and all 4 of their releases are equally deserving of merit. The track in question is from their breakthrough album Frengers released in 2003, an absolute masterpiece of genre mashing, the album has a hugely epic feel, yet the songs themselves are not particularly lengthy, barring the final track, Comforting Sounds, a spine chilling, orchestral and hummable finale. Am I Wry? No, is the opening track on the album, and goes through numerous guitar riffs, some exemplary bass playing, time changes, and catchy passages. The production is sparkling, glistening with life and seems to jump right out of your speakers, to become all consuming and enveloping. Also highly recommended is And The Glass Handed Kites, released in 2005.
Gojira - Flying Whales
Gojira are a progressive death metal outfit from France, although they are not stereotypically death metal at all. Yes, there is detuned riff madness, growled vocals, intricate double bass and more distortion than a regular amplifier can handle, but there is a quality about their music that makes it more listenable to even the casual metal enthusiast. One thing that is hard to say about death metal is that it is catchy, however here, Gojira appear to have found their niche. Much as Fear Factory – Replica, Meshuggah – Combustion, or Divine Heresy – Savior Self have catchy riffs, Gojira have also mastered the art. Songs from From Mars To Sirius (the album Flying Whales is taken from) such as The Heaviest Matter In The Universe and World To Come have genuinely catchy guitar lines. Flying Whales is perhaps the best example of this, a 7 minute crushing epic about, well, flying whales, begins with a slow and anticipatory riff, delicately bracing the listener for the crushing drop C riff to follow. Moments of double bass breakdowns intertwine with intense riffing, creating a dark soundscape that will set you on edge. Gojira are gradually becoming more prominent on the metal scene, and hopefully the musicians masterful skills will soon enter populist metalsteam culture. If you like these guys, offshoot projects worth listening to include Empalot, and Cavalera Conspiracy.
