Linus Klausenitzer is a musician of considerable renown, but in metal circles is best known for his previous participation as 6 string fretless bass player with Obscura, and as co-founder of the bands Alkaloid and Obsidious. “Tulpa” is his first release and features a number of guest artists. But with Linus at the helm, I fully expected something technical in what is described as a “musical odyssey through time”.
Quiet acoustic beginnings are the prelude to a classic melodic death-thrash number “King of Hearts”. Little twists here and there support this flowing metal piece, which has all the ingredients of a solid, technically gifted metal song but which I have to say didn’t blow me away with its originality. “Axiom Architect” had the same effect. The guitar riff reminded me of some Finnish bands. The drums and keyboard are lively, the guitar work is impeccable and it’s all enhanced by intriguing bass guitar interludes as you might expect. It flows and there’s lots of technical melody, and I can’t say it’s according to a prescribed pattern as there’s movement but even so I find it too clinical and formulaic, perhaps. “Our Soul Sets Sail” is slower and from it there’s more punch and power. Once again as a song it doesn’t break boundaries. This is true of all of it. Songs like “Sehraff” have life but breeze along comfortably and melodically, with that bass sound permeating in the background and adding a little extra. “Sehraff” brought In Flames to mind in its melodic approach.
For the first time I found myself being swept along when I listened to “Sword Swallower”, and could describe it as exciting. Aside from its urgency, it’s good for its musical layers at all instrumental levels. The bassy start to “Sister in Black” is nice and has the air of being the prelude to a story. I’m not sure what the sister in black refers to exactly but the atmosphere of this instrumental song swings between that of a summer’s day to something cloudier – it’s a nicely rounded song. “The Devil’s Tongue” is another technically melodic bassy number – pleasant without tearing up trees. That is a statement I could make about all of this album. “Queen of Hearts”, “Dig Deeper” and “Luna Assailant”, which constitute the final three songs, similarly twist and turn their way round various musical avenues in admirable fashion without providing any lasting spark. I do like the bass, and enjoyed the riffs and the solos. The songs have good structure too but there needs to be a sign that goes with this saying “technician at work”. I sensed the briefest tinge of emotion at the start of “Lunar Assailant” but it’s almost incidental and precedes the familiar trail of melodic death gymnastics. A moody section splits it up a little before a final reminder of Linus’s technically melodic ability and a sober finish.
Technically and structurally, this album is commendable. “Tulpa” will appeal to those who like their metal to be fluent and melodic, and with non-extreme technical twists. I have to say that I found it rather vanilla, but it’s not unpleasant and I certainly appreciated the quality of the musicianship, which is tight and skilful.
(6/10 Andrew Doherty)
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