ALBUM REVIEW: I, Awake – Upcdownc

UPCDOWNC have returned, once again bringing back with them that heavy instrumental fuzz sound we all know and love. I, Awake is their new album bringing elements of progressive, sludge and even some synths. The band has really focused on a horror theme and have done it very well, you have a mixture of moments where you feel at peace and others when you get extremely creepy vibes.

Am I Awake? begins with a snoring sample and horror/church style organ synths at different pitches to create a creepy melody which is met with distorted guitars and drums which continue to build up, becoming more intense with every step which then finally into a heavy fuzz riff. This is shortly teased however, as UPCDOWNC head back into the build up to play the riff once more, using feedback to switch up the sound, before slowing down and utilising a very calming acoustic riff with a very interesting dripping sample behind it. It’s then soon accompanied by a higher pitched synth riff that just adds feeling into this chilling melody. Out of nowhere it transforms into a beautifully heavy fuzz riff that instantly requires acknowledgement and this is just heightened when the drums get involved, the guitars then take charge by giving us a little taste of what UPCDOWNC are capable of by serenading us with a short solo until a sudden stop.

Immediately after, a heavy ringing bass sound, symbols and an almost saw cutting through wood sound takes us into the next section with a soft piano riff that adds depth to this build up, the feedback begins to pick up and then piano starts to pick up speed, which all then halts and a low frequency ringing begins. Another soft acoustic starts to play with the added effect of wind chimes, this short section is beautiful and extremely spiritually inducing, there is then a very creepy echoing grandfather clock until the band ramps up the speed with faster drums and guitar completing this section of the album.

Then the nightmares begin with Adrift, this section begins with a very distorted beach sample, the waves seem like they are made out of static and the seagulls distant, the eerie sound of the higher pitched swing like noise makes this creepy to its fullest, the distortion keeps grows until the band and the instruments take over and begin to play a section that sounds almost BOSSK like, suddenly changing to a clean tone the guitar softly chugs, which is then accompanied with a space sounding synth with the drums softly joining them. It begins to slowly build up going into a heavy headbanging riff and chugging that sounds similar to MASTODON, until it breaks and a very southern sounding riff and the rest of the band join back in bringing the fuzz with them, this then ends with feedback which directly connects to a heavy breathing sample and a woman laughing softly in the background, the guitars begin to play a soft riff until there is a big piano hit and a heart monitor sample until it falls silent

Looming opens through a beautiful singing birds sample plays which instantly makes you feel like you’re in a park surrounded by trees with a trippy sounding guitar and synth riff which just adds to it, they begin to play the synth and guitar with speed for a short section, adding drums to the mix with a build up going into a variations of heavy fuzzy riffs and feedback whilst Foreboding begins with complete destruction, heavy bass and smokey riffs that would please any doom fan, until silence, then high frequency ringing that is extremely relaxing with a synth riff which only adds to this.

The great feature about I, Awake is the way the record has been set out to be a series of short musical stories, usually you follow them in a set order but you don’t necessarily need to, as each sectioned story is so unique that they will work through ordered or individual listening. The rivalry between the bliss and dreamy sounds can just so easily switch to a very dark, horrible place with disturbing horror samples giving the concept a strong depth, making it very interesting indeed. I, Awake is available now to the masses. Prepare.

Rating: 8/10

I, Awake is out now.

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