alternative rock / psychedelic
We'll end today's writing sessions with one of the strangest rock albums I have heard in the past few years. Once, way back in 1983, Italian rockers Viridanse threw themselves in their country's new wave scene. After a few years, the band split up, only to return with a more psychedelic inspired approach in 2014. Now, three years later, they still seem to evolve as a band. Other genres have been leaking into Viridanse's sound, genres like jazz, progressive rock, post metal and krautrock. The result is something varied and immersive, but also something weird and unusual. Then again, we like weird and unusual. We are weird and unusual.
Lorenzo Stecconi produced this album, someone who is known for collaborations and productions for Zu and Ufomammut. His presence might explain the heavy and in-your-face sound of the whole album. Play it loud enough and you might be able to compare this to the stuff Melvins often blast out of their speakers. There is a lot of energy and intensity to be found and the present day post-metal scene is never far away.
So there is noise rock, post metal and plenty of other styles to be found, which obviously is not bad for a band that once was a new wave and post punk act. In a way you can still hear those eighties influences, mainly in the vocals (which by the way are all in Italian). Yet, the gloomy eighties sound is enhanced with heavy riffs, battering drums and plenty of headbanging passages. And with all that, those are still incredibly groovy rock songs.
So who to recommend this album to? Well, that might be tough. On the other hand, I can just recommend it to each and every fans of original and immersive rock music. There are some awesome songs to be found, with 'Scomunica' being a world class tune, driving on awesome guitar work. My advice: give it a shot and allow yourself to dwell in this strange and led heavy fairy tale that Viridanse have created.
Serge
Lorenzo Stecconi produced this album, someone who is known for collaborations and productions for Zu and Ufomammut. His presence might explain the heavy and in-your-face sound of the whole album. Play it loud enough and you might be able to compare this to the stuff Melvins often blast out of their speakers. There is a lot of energy and intensity to be found and the present day post-metal scene is never far away.
So there is noise rock, post metal and plenty of other styles to be found, which obviously is not bad for a band that once was a new wave and post punk act. In a way you can still hear those eighties influences, mainly in the vocals (which by the way are all in Italian). Yet, the gloomy eighties sound is enhanced with heavy riffs, battering drums and plenty of headbanging passages. And with all that, those are still incredibly groovy rock songs.
So who to recommend this album to? Well, that might be tough. On the other hand, I can just recommend it to each and every fans of original and immersive rock music. There are some awesome songs to be found, with 'Scomunica' being a world class tune, driving on awesome guitar work. My advice: give it a shot and allow yourself to dwell in this strange and led heavy fairy tale that Viridanse have created.
Serge
