EP REVIEW: Fight Or Flight – Hyvmine
Right out of LA, progressive metal collective HYVMINE bring forth an all-out shred fest of an EP, Fight Or Flight. Having already put out a full album this year, this latest record promises to be rawer, more expressive and dynamic than anything the band have previously released.
Starting out, Coup De Grace envelops you in a wondrous, fuzzy synth tone. The hook is instantly groove-laden, shifting the most intricate of notes you might miss on a first listen. There’s some really funky xylophone-sounding rhythms sprinkled in there and a continuous interjection of synth sounds, all the while encompassed within the greater tone of the overall track. The latter half of the track really ups the ante; a sonic treat of the trippy variety, there’s a lot to be impressed with here. While many djent and prog fans will enjoy themselves here, the fact that things don’t get too bogged down with being the heaviest metal going, while still being intricate and complex keeps things a little more stimulating and surreal.
The Epiocoustic has some beautiful movements within the arrangement. HYVMINE have a knack, no matter the number of instruments on show, of making music that stands out. Once the serene acoustics are slowly layered onto with electric, the piece suddenly soars to another level. A new beat arises out of the belly of the peaceful place we started, more energetic, more aggressive. The chorus has bags of alt-rock to keep things palatable, while the verse sections on their own have something of a thrash edge to this great mix of sounds. It’s worth noting the different styles of Al Joseph’s voice, whose range allows for a seamless movement within the music, strongly taking the reins when appropriate, and subsides when this start getting intense on the strings. There are real peaks of elation and some darker swoops in the riffs; this is a track that has no intention of stepping it down a notch and retains its impressive stance between its genre influences. A truly incredible piece of music you’ll be hard pressed not to fall in love with.
However, no time to wait and absorb the totality of what you’ve just listened to, as the final track Feather Bed taps and beeps into your ears. It has a much more futuristic feel to it, contrasting beautifully with the primal drums. The swelling bass, the unusual auditory experience of the melody all builds into a great sweeping guitar solo. It would be hard to try and compare what HYVMINE have achieved with this song to any other band, it feels authentic, genuine and new. Once again, we’re grasped by those vocals, that do not dissuade you from enjoying the music, as might be the case with some overreaching prog artists, but in fact every note Joseph bellows, whispers or harmonises, just leads into more musical depths. So many fantastic influences from other genres are once again exemplified, from some bossa nova stylings to that more solid of prog, with dual harmonies, soaring synth and even electronica.
Anyone who understands true musicianship, but more importantly that technical brilliance can be fun, is going to fall head over heels with HYVMINE on this record. Thirty or so minutes of sheer musical brilliance, Fight Or Flight is an exemplary EP, absolutely bursting at the seams with talent and originality. Musicality overrides any ego or pretence here, and it’s progressive music done at a master’s level.
Rating: 9/10
Fight or Flight is set for release on July 13th via Seek and Strike.
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