Album Type: Full length
Date
Released:
04/09/2017
Label: Independent
Poland's Major Kong tests the limits of music with its new recording, "Brace for Impact." The eight-song release is entirely instrumental and rooted in a science fiction theme. Heady indeed, but Major Kong give you a dense, impressive album regardless.
“Brace for
Impact” CD//DD// track listing
1.
Surrounded by Hypno-Creatures
2.
Synaptic Failure
3.
Transdimensional Holiday
4.
Quantum Elephantum
5.
Brace for Impact
6.
Gravity Boots
7.
Rapid Star Formation
8.
Return to the Holodeck
The Review:
Extreme
music, like all music, is entirely subjective in experience. Insofar as what
that leader can do behind the microphone, that is just as subjective. However,
the emotions that bring out of an audience, the passion they stir in their band
mates and their ability to make a song memorable inarguably fuel the mystique
of any musician.
What
happens to that feeling when there is no lead? Without a singer, many of us
wonder about direction. So when there is no focal point, it stands to reason
that the music itself has to be quite remarkable
The
group debuted in 2012 with the EP "Orogenesis"
and then 2014's "Doom for the Black
Sun" and another full length, "Doom
Machine," the same year. In 2015 Major Kong issued a split 12" with Dopelord
and their "Galactic Cannibalism" EP. Then there was a 2016 EP, "Brave New Kong." You get
the picture: prolific. Taking off a year as the band must feel like a lifetime.
Fortunately, "Brace for Impact" seems like
its members have not lost a step.
The
previous albums "Doom for the Black
Sun" and "Doom
Machine" seemed to tell a story of global annihilation and sidebar
tales of it. The listener will soon gather that the title of the latest release
is a space reference instead of one connoting violence. Where you might hunger
for a story behind the titles, let the music itself present a soundtrack for
your imagination to figure out exactly what the concept may be. The open, "Surrounded by Hypno-Creatures,"
begins with what could be the crank of an equipment failure, wandering out into
a languorous spin, then delibrateness to its climax. Is it desperation?
Feverish intention? Maybe letting the emotion take over is the best part.
The
sharp interludes and twists the music takes make for what feels like one hell
of a story. There are strong hints of alien life in the titles, and even in the
intense guitars. Plodding cuts like "Gravity
Boots" and the urgency of "Return
to the Holodeck" suggest escape… from captivity or what, we may never
know. Major
Kong is simply exuberant in its scene setting. Without a single
word, you get an exhilarating ride of a recording, start to finish.
Given
their pace for recording, Major Kong could issue more music this year.
One can only wish, like the "Doom" series, there is more in store for
this magnificent arc.
"Brace for
Impact" is available here
