You have to love a bit of synchronicity. I had been meaning to check out Georgian band Psychonaut 4 properly for some time and had just been covering the excellent Jours Pâles album and been really impressed with vocalist Graf’s guest appearance on it. Lo and behold, a voice was perhaps listening and although released back in 2020 last year, the group’s new album landed on the doormat. It made a hefty thunk as well being a fold out design package with lots of impressive artwork, a lyric booklet, poster and disc containing an hour’s worth of music on it. Put simply the group are explorers of misery and musically could be lumped in with other practitioners of DSBM, playing music for a “nonanonymous club of people on the edge.” Those who do love this style are not necessarily haters of life and want to end it all by any means but take comfort and solace within the style, both they and those that play it using it for cathartic purposes. There are many preconceptions about this that sees bands maligned about what they practice for all the wrong reasons. Having arrived at a particularly difficult personal time for this writer I can only attest that Beautyfall is the sort of album that has really helped me get through it… Anyway, time to move on from there
The tracks and most of the lyrics are in Georgian but the titles have been translated to their English alternative too, which is not only helpful but the translation that I will use here. ‘One Man’s War’ takes the charge, clattering in vehemently and without any unnecessary introduction. The listener can straight away hear what the band sound like at full strength and its powerful stuff. The vocals have plenty of focus, this is bloodthirsty and far from miserable with some triumphant clean soars amidst the more blackened parts, guitar player Drifter is also I believe on hand to provide backing parts making it a really full-bodied experience. The lengthy ‘Tbilisian Tragedy’ (of which you can easily find narrative and historical relevance to online) charges straight in again but over a 10-minute running length it takes several directions. There’s acoustic fretwork and clean fragrant almost hymnal parts no doubt reflecting on the tragedy of what took place and sounding very traditional with it. Rage and anger is the flipside and that is evident in the counterpoising bruising sections of the epic number which really does draw you into its world and leaves you wanting to find further information about it. A deeply moving and respectful song and one with many hidden depths including what goes on to develop into highly stirring symphonic elements.
‘And How Are You?’ is a question we all should be asking right now. The opening melody is very familiar and one I have heard many times on this style of music. I just refer to it as having the ‘28 Days Later effect’ and will leave you to hear why. The vocals are full of pain and anguish and really are dramatic as they literally slice into you leaving you feeling every cut. Some gorgeous weeping guitar lines address the sorrow and this track really hits home perfectly before inner strength is explored in the English versed ‘Sana Sana Sana-Cura Cura Cura,. The words “I am often dangerous for myself and for all. I’m like a deep-sea mine. Don’t get too close to me. Don’t get too close to me!” certainly talk and feel like they could have been written for me. As for the music, the darkness within is sublime.
‘#Tostoreandtouse’ shows the full emotional rage from Graf who really is an exceptional vocalist throughout. The bouncy near post-punk rhythmic thrust of the song is absolutely storming and the only thing that could make it better is witnessing it live. There’s something life-affirming about it although moods are in flux and there is always going to be a certain down side to things. Cue ‘And Sorrow, Again,’ with its mantras and misery to explore like the labyrinth of the mind and the voices that are never silenced within. Perhaps it is time to give them a good spring clean? Maybe that is the meaning behind the title of the last track ‘Dust, The Enemy?’ Interpretation is at this point in the eyes and ears of the beholder. With saxophone moodily accompanying these babbling thoughts, it seems that is very much the case though “If I reach the depth of thought, I will no longer walk with a corpse.”
This is not quite the end, in more ways than one. Psychonaut 4 are members of the church of 23 and if you have the disc, that is the position you will find a cover of Silencer classic ‘Sterile Nails And Thunderbowels,’ on this deeply affecting album. Consider me nonanonymous.
NB: Many themes such as suicide addressed in this review and other music we cover, although provide a lifeline for some, do not for everyone. We urge you not be afraid to ask for help if you are struggling and please seek it out through national suicide prevention campaigns and providers. Talk to each other and do not struggle alone!
(9/10 Pete Woods)
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