Some music is really hard to describe, Aphemia for example, are metal or heavy rock, they have soft and desperate vocals yet then again sometimes they have fierce and angry vocals, they have powerful crushing riffs, then again they have chilled out synths and fast almost electronic drum beats. It is chunky, powerful, melodic, driving, angry, moving music, maybe I should just say this, Aphemia are not afraid to experiment.
Starting with some soft, building synths and drums, track one ‘Safety In Numbers’ is slowly built up as the gentle melodic distortion of the guitars and the drum beats and deep bass slowly gain pace. The vocals come in and with a really melodic voice that at just the right moments kicks up into a angry, desperate growl, adds feeling and gives the songs that emotion. The guitars also know when to turn up the power kicking in with deep distortion that blurts out like a drunk at a party, as the birthday host gets up to do his speech they rant out, blunt and powerful and really catch your attention. The bass and drums are really tight and the drumming really stands out with some super quick fills but keeping the rest of the band in time so so well. The bass also goes about its work with little fuss but holding the songs together, this mixed with the synths, provide a soft and safe backdrop for the vocals and guitar to fall back on. This band really use all their instruments well, the guitars use powerful chords before breaking down for softer riffs and slowly building. The vocals also move really well, using catchy hooks in the chorus and changing patterns to suit the melodies. Each instrument takes turn to lead in this first track at some point it seems and yet they all work together so well. Even though there is no doubt that Aphemia are a heavy rock band, even with industrial metal influences, they have a softer and more melodic edge and Safety in Numbers is a awesome song to start this E.P off. It moves, builds and has masses of dynamic, changing at the times to get heavier and faster to create a topsy-turvy ride.
‘All For You’ starts with a barrage of drums that slowly builds before blasting in with a powerful guitar and weird synth. This song has a eerie feel and the industrial influence is more obvious. The vocals are more screamed and with the dark synths and fast drums, that also add some really diverse and clever fills, it has a dark edge. It isn’t as catchy as the previous song but the chorus contrasts nicely with the verse by having a more uplifting feel as the guitars and synths float in and out and the vocal changes to a more melodic and soft sound. There is a soft drum and bass break down in this song before using the synths and a well timed guitar solo to build back up. This song reminds me of Pitchshifter at times but it has a more feel good edge and with the flowing guitars and bone crushing drumming, it also has a 80’s edge.
Just to show that Aphemia can mix there dynamic even more, track 3 ‘Your World’ starts with a almost punk, fast riff and stampeding drums. It then breaks down into a messy and eerie industrial song. It is probably the heaviest song yet, but it has masses of dynamic, changing tempo, mood and style regularly. The vocal patterns are really inventive and with the guitars cutting in and out the drums, bass and synths moving so much it once again is really, really impressive. This song has loads of changes and moves consistently and beautifully. It isn’t as catchy as the songs before it, but it is a musical display of excellence.
To finish this offering off, final track ‘The Forgotten’ is a fast and furious piece of metal. With screams and fast riffs that swing from huge highs to dark lows. The drumming this time is mental going nuts with the double bass and becoming a chaotic, mess of noise before breaking down into soft and gentle synths. The Forgotten repeats this format several times with slight variations, meaning it just builds up and down over and over, making the listener feel like there is turbulence in their head. It is quite exhausting.
Aphemia create masses of dynamic and by integrating, interlocking and interchanging all their instruments they produce a powerful barrage of noise. They really know how to use dynamic, changing tempo and mood so much in every song. The guitars can do soft picking, funky riffs, full on power crunching or fancy soloing, the drums and bass are tight yet impressive moving well and showing diversity and originality, the synths set the moods and by changing from trippy scales to soft sweeping sheets of sound create atmosphere and add stability to give the others space to work, and the vocals seem to be at ease with switching between melodic and catchy hooks and passionate, driving screams. With interesting melodies and vocal patterns as well as a mix of influence there is no doubt Aphemia are original and different. They are also energetic and atmospheric, if you will like them, I don’t know. I would recommend you check them out for yourself.
Overall (4 / 5)
Review by Gaz
