Tim Yatras is the man behind Australian act Germ. You may not know him by that name but you should no doubt have heard of some of the versatile acts he has been involved in. Where to start? Well it’s a big list starting off with Lord and moving on through some classic names in extreme music; Illium, Nazxul, Austere, Woods Of Desolation and Grey Waters and if that has not tickled your fancy then you are really in the wrong place. If you are new to the works of Tim and want a bit more information I can perhaps direct you to our previous website to check out reviews on the same label by three of his latter releases from these bands http://www.metalteamuk.net/july10reviews/cdreviews-austere.htm
This should give you an idea as just to how versatile he is as the bands in question are all radically different. Germ’s origins actually date back to 2003 and were designed to go far from any normal black metal strictures but to combine elements from styles as disparate as rock, classical, pop and electronic to the mix, as well as to give these textures a really visual flair. Despite a three track EP recorded, only one track ever saw the light of day and due to involvement in other projects Germ have ended up on the backburner until ‘Wish’ was finally committed to disc back in late 2011. All I can say is that boy it is well worth the wait.
This was one of those rare albums that virtually floored me on first listen. It starts with the massive ‘An Overdose On Cosmic Galaxy.’ Neo classical piano goes into a synthesized whoosh and crystalline guitars sprawled around a melodious electronic backbone. The sound is joyous and uplifting and when the pop laden vocals finally come in you cannot fail to be touched by it all. This does not sound very extreme you say? Yep right so far, we have the perfect sort of song that would have latter day Anathema fans weeping over its construction but wait… Yes those tortured shrieks are waiting to be unleashed and when they are I challenge you not to shiver as their impact works its way down your spine blissfully in contrast with the instrumentation but oh so perfect too.
Is it possible to follow this 10 minute bombshell of a song? Just and the album continues in style with a slightly more depressive and maudlin flow of ‘Asteroid Of Sorrow.’ Seriously some of these well known stadium rock bands should listen to this and go back to the drawing board. It’s heartfelt and gorgeous stuff with the perfect balance in the clean, shrieking vocals. ‘Oxygen’ does owe slightly to Mr Jarre keyboard wise, there is also a bit of space laden techno ala Eat Static about it but it is just a very short gasp (sorry) before we ‘Breathe In The Sulphur / A Light Meteor Shower. Tone wise we are in a heavy and oppressive place and it is one of excitement and danger. It is all about the racing melody and cavernous vocal screams. Black metal has never sounded so spatial!
After a track entitled after project name ‘Germ’ gives us some cosmic Hawkwind etched, keyboard pulsating space rock we are pitched into a perfect song for this time of year ‘Flowers Bloom and Flowers Fall, But I’m still Waiting For The Spring. You get the feeling that winter has been harsh and it is still cold, there is a yearning for light and warmth and the music does just what it set out to do and paints a very clear picture. You had almost forgotten about the clean vocals but when they sweep in again you are more than happy to let them drag you off in their embrace. The bridge tracks keep taking me to another zone and ‘Infinity’ is a gentle all encompassing mood setter ala Astralasia and other Planet Dog sort of projects, you kind of expect it to go into a massive trance number but its left to the driving black fervour of ‘Your Smile Mirrors The Sun.’ With drums literally powering away and shrieks hurled out the speakers we are in a huge and powerful place where the feral tone is massive. Then the melody changes and again we are in passionate and uplifting mode where the two ideals of grim misanthropy and glorious joy clash headlong. Finally we see this technicolour cinematic extravaganza ebb out with a soft lilting piano piece ‘Wish.’ Perfect.
It may be a bit of a cliché but this was an album that spoke to me and its voice was load. This germ has gestated over time and it is an incredibly powerful and virulent disease that mere antibiotics will not touch. I think I am going to be suffering with it for a long time and it will not be forgotten on choosing my albums of the year. Seek this out and spread the sickness!
(9/10 Pete Woods)
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