Midusano
Songs in the Key of F*ck EP
Don’t be put off by the title. I too was disappointed to find out that this was not a compilation of soundtrack highlights from my favourite ‘specialist video’ store. Once you get over the initial shock though it has to be said that right from the very first crash of cymbals and truck sized guitars that this is a staggering record.
Unashamedly flitting and flirting between straight up nu-metal riffing, post rock start-stop interludes, random breaks into electronic havens and saccharine sweet melodies – it takes a band with balls to have no fear of stretching themselves this wide. After repeated listens there can be no denying that with ‘Songs in the key of F*ck’ that they have pulled off something of a coup.
Opening with the juggernaut ‘Sister Temptation’ the band quickly display their progressive attitude towards the metal norms by sawing off buzzsaw riffs to drop synthesised voices and keyboard bleeps into the mix before powering back to an almighty climax with vocalist Scott Andrews barking like a dog into a hurricance.
Highlights come at a fair pace throughout the rest of this remarkable record – check the breathless bridge of ‘Decent Assult’ where Andrews shows us there’s more in his larynx than a good shout, or the sci-fi riffing of ‘Rhythm Theif’ where Robocop appears to make an entrance through the wall of the studio half way through.
By turns touching base with the likes of Geordie noise-mongers Yourcodenameis:milo, the synthesiser based output of The Deftones even through to twisting metallic monsters Tool, there is so much going on and such attention to detail that it takes a few listens to fully absorb this record. Repeated listens though do reveal layer after layer of detail, all adding to the dense mix and helping to elevate the songs into a genuinely scene-goosing album.
All told a great success from an ambitious and clearly inventive band, at once looking backwards, sidewards and forwards and at no point reaching for the volume control. Excellent!
Guest article from Ben M.
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