Sonic Moon - Usually I Don't Care for Flowers (2019)
Around this time last year, we got our first taste of the music made by the Danish group called Sonic Moon,
and with its grungy twist on heavy rock, we definitely dug what we
heard. Now they're back with their second EP, packing five tracks of
further exploration into their character and ideas.
Leading with “All Things Evergreen”,
which cycles through some warm-up noise before throwing its weight
behind a big, bossy riff. Vocalist Oliver Lyngkilde slides his way
into the song right on the back of that riff, and from there, the
song builds up a groove-working punchiness, with some kicking bassy
break-downs on the bridges. “Keep Bleeding” picks up from there
with a more withdrawn and hurt vibe to Lyngskilde's singing, though
the instruments build up from a matching quietness into a roar that
pulls him up with it. “Epitaph”, fittingly, returns to the more
somber sound for its start, and while the band can't entirely escape
their energetic inclinations, it does show their serious side in a
good light.
“Vultures Beak” (sic) flows right
out of the last notes of “Epitaph”, picking away on the base
melody while gradually regaining speed, finishing out on a bit of
flange flash. Lastly, the title track comes in to set a slow grind
rhythm and riffage, drawing listeners into a head-bob until the end.
The grunge flavoring is still there, in
the toothy grit of the guitar tone and the tendency to set riffs,
then repeat them at intensified heaviness and dirtiness, but the
songs have, overall, taken on more of a doomy flavor than was
evidenced on the first EP. “Keep Bleeding” and “Epitaph”, as
their names suggest, are probably the best examples of this, but they
also demonstrate the band's facility in meshing that heaviness with
rock, and coming out with something distinct from standard heavy
rock. There's more emotionality, inventiveness, and boundary-pushing
to it, and it's a clear confirmation that Sonic Moon have been
keeping busy since their first EP's release. There's development,
but clear continuity of character, and hearing them grow is a treat.
Hopefully it won't be too long before they put out an LP, so we can
see them push things even further.
~ Gabriel
For Fans Of; Alice in Chains, Deadeye
Dick, For Love Not Lisa, Pale Grey Lore, Seed
~
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