SEVEN IMPALE: Contrapasso (PROGRESSIVE ROCK): review / opinion to read on Music Waves

Two years ago, the Norwegians of Seven Impale made a big impression on the editorial staff of Music Waves with their debut album, "City of the Sun". At least, on its part least frightened by the dissonances and inventive audacities. Because Seven Impale is certainly not one of those bands that are concerned about caressing their audience in the hope of some kind of media recognition.

And it's not this "Contrapasso" that will change things. Did you like the first album ? Chances are you'll like this one. It has the same oppressive atmosphere, dark and desperate melodies, eruptive music with many rhythmic breaks, hectic instruments which, led by an often possessed sax, do not hesitate to be dissonant or saturated and an invested and theatrical vocals sometimes on the verge of rupture.

Nevertheless, "Contrapasso" marks a certain evolution compared to its predecessor. The album seems more controlled, less crazy, the turbulences of "City of the Sun" give way to rhythms always as syncopated but more constructed, even hypnotic. The melodies, although still angular and uncomfortable, are sharper, the freestyle passages less frequent. The impression of maelstrom or volcanic eruption left by the first album is less significant.

From there to say that this record is restful, there is a step we won't take. The aptly named 'Convulsion' is a cataclysmic track where instruments and voices melt into a grueling eruptive magma from which only saturations, dissonances and aggressiveness emerge. Less breathless but nevertheless bubbling, 'Heresy' and 'Inertia' resemble a test of strength from which one comes out exhausted but curiously satisfied. But many titles are calmer, starting with 'Langour' and its sax, or the hypnotic 'Helix' and 'Serpentstone' rolling up on themselves to better develop their themes.

In spite of the length of the album, the density of the music and its somewhat off-putting approach, no weariness or tiredness or impression of repetition are felt when listening to the first eight tracks. It's a pity that "Contrapasso" ends on the long and experimental 'Phoenix', an instrumental frozen in its loops and successive ostinatos that struggle to impose their hypnotic character.

Nevertheless, this slight misstep does not call into question the quality of the album whose demanding and complex music is both cerebral and visceral. Seven Impale has moved away from King Crimson-style improvisations to a hybrid between Van Der Graph Generator (darkness, dissonance) and Beardfish (aggressiveness, the grain of madness). "Contrapasso" will annoy those who do not conceive music otherwise than harmonious but will delight all those who are looking for adventure and a change of scenery. - Official website

SEVEN IMPALE

CONTRAPASSO

KARISMA RECORDS

PROGRESSIVE ROCK