Album
Type: Full
Length
Date
Released: 01/12/2019
Label: Independent
“LP01” CD//DD track listing:
1). Planeswalker
2). Rivers of Crystal
3). Interlude
4). Return
5). Five
The
Review:
I'm not one to stand up and shout
against the oppression of genre based music in metal. Genres serve their
purpose, allowing us to neatly organize and place artists we'll want to listen
to together tidily. Sometimes it's nice for things to fit well into a box.
Still though, there is something to be said for those few artists that truly
cannot be labeled. A band so diverse in its offerings that it simply cannot fit
neatly into any of those boxes. Homecoming
place themselves firmly into this category.
With tonal notes falling in every far
corner of the musical spectrum,”LP-01” is certain to have
something for everyone. These three
folks come together in what can only be described as perfect harmony. Mixing elements of Stoner Rock and Technical
Death Metal from members previous projects, Homecoming is an interesting little experiment in the
collision of musical worlds.
Guitars reach from tripped out acid
riffs to full on metal mayhem with sneaky hints of jazzy melodies and chicken
picked twang strewn throughout for good measure. Drums are masterfully crafted
throughout these five tracks, fluidly shifting from destructive blast beats to
swinging grooves. A highlight of the
album for sure, this is one of the most talented and eclectic drummers I've
heard in a very long time. A very
musical bass sits comfortably in the mix, admirably holding down the low end
and providing a very solid ground for the rest of the band to stand on.
Opening track “Planeswalker”
offers up some beautiful diversity,
serving as the perfect thesis for what is to come. With rocking riffs and soaring vocal
melodies, this one is sure to satisfy any desert rocker while providing without
pigeon holding itself into any one category.
Harder hitting while still well rounded is “Rivers of Crystal”,
really showcasing the eclectic grooves in the drum work. An instrumental interlude comes next,
offering what I will only describe as the single greatest track in the long and
inconsistent history if songs named “Interlude”. “Return” leans a
bit heavier into desert rock, though with a band this diverse that is an
admittedly trivial classification. Putting the vocal range on display, “Return”
let's every member really spread out, to wonderful effect. The album closes out
with the perfect conclusion in “Five”. An all-out jam with heavy riffs, Pink Floyd style leads and a sound
that plays hopscotch with genre boundaries.
The debut album from this French trio
offers up a taste of what I'm sure will be an amazing career. With such a wide
array of sonic variations presented on “LP-01”, I honestly cannot
imagine what will come next from Homecoming, but I sure can't wait to find out.
“LP01”
is available HERE
