You know when a band that isn’t Metal gets on a Metal label? Well that really tends to grind my gears. It makes that band into an ‘acceptable’ outlet for the Metal community, why? Can’t you just go on Bandcamp and go down rabbit holes yourself! Why must you be fed everything through a damn Metal label! Anyway, I must control myself, sometimes it can pay off, that’s where Relapse Records own Zombi come in.
I’m not going to lie I picked this review because of the band name. I’d heard of them before but recently I’ve been watching a lot of Fulci and Zombi just made me think Zombi 2, and there you go. Anyway, this Pittsburgh duo have continued to throw out some pretty interesting releases. I’d seen their 2020 album… 2020 bandied about the internet a bit and at the end of the day I like a bit of Post-Rock and I love me some Prog. Therefore, the bands new EP Liquid Crystal sounded perfect, something a bit different for me to review.
Mangler begins the EP, a bed of haunting synth lays over Post-Rock infused drumming to create something that feels very retro, although it must be said that the drumming is of a more hard-hitting modern calibre. When the guitars (or what I assume to be guitars? Hard to tell between synth and guitars at times) come in they too breathe modernity into the track. Chant and the title track flow with much the same instrumental beauty. The latter really giving the guitar a chance to shine. This is very atmospheric but not at all hipster in presentation, this is just good solid Post-Rock with Synth-Rock elements. Perhaps the biggest statement of the album is the epic Turning Points, a lovely eleven-minute track that puts emphasis on a Prog Rock delivery. It’s a powerful song that is kind of singular in tone but none the less hypnotic and totally immersive. Final track Black Forest follows and closes the EP, is it necessary? Not really, I feel like the EP could have ended after Turning Points. None the less Black Forest is by no means a bad song, just the positioning doesn’t help. In fact, I’d probably say that Black Forest is the best and most dynamic song on the release.
So, I’m going to say first off, background music. I’m not even going to defend it, I don’t think it’s a bad term anyway. This is like the greatest elevator music you’ll ever hear. The kind of elevator music that would make you go up and down floors just to hear it. It’s chilled out, well written and inspiring stuff that’s as suited to a summers day as it is to a cold drunken winter eve. Sure, it isn’t the most incredible thing I’ve ever heard (even in Post-Rock) but one thing is for sure, it won’t be the last time I listen to Zombi.
(8/10 George Caley)
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