Perihelion is a Hungarian quartet who conjures a raw and invasive post /avant-garde metal merged sound. Fair to say there is more to that core recipe too, a blackened essence and punkish spicing amongst the flavours uniting in the band’s stirring second album Zeng. As atmospherically and sonically immersive as it is emotionally and physically intrusive, the eight track encounter provides a formidable and highly enjoyable confrontation easy to recommend others take a listen to.
Perihelion formed in 2012 and quickly worked on and released their self-titled debut album. In 2014 the Nap fele néz EP was unleashed, it stirring up stronger attention and now it is the turn of the highly provocative and creatively magnetic Zen to provide its proposal in an encounter sung in the band’s own mother tongue whilst inciting the imagination into action with dynamic ease.
The album opens on the atmospherically stark and beauteous instrumental landscape of Tündöklés, its chilled air and sinister nature an enthralling and increasingly imposing scene setter which swoops into the following explosive entrance of Vég se hozza el. From its first breath, the track is a torrent of riffs and barbarous rhythms driven by the snarling clean tones of guitarist/vocalist Gyula Vasvári. Rich in punk antagonism and energy, the track makes a forceful and thrilling entrance, remaining as potent as it subsequently drifts into post metal ambiences drifting across cold landscapes. The guitars of Krisztián Szabados and Vasvári continue to weave a suggestive and dramatic tapestry of evocative temptation, their sculpting matching the ever evolving tempestuous climate and raw rapacious heart of the song to great success.
The pair of tracks provides a fine start to Zeng which continues just as powerfully through Felemészt a tér. Roaring around the skeletal frame of pungent beats swung by drummer Barna Katonka, the track is a maelstrom of intensity and emotion perfectly tempered by the throaty tempting of Balázs Hubicska’s bass and the squalling and enterprising winds of guitar aggression and enterprise. Short tangy grooves, gripping hooks, and melodic tenacity all emerge within the body of another blaze which twist, turns, and evolves with each passing minute, the exploration of black metal malevolence as appealing as the progressive tenacity around it.
With only the fade-out a slight niggle, always a personal bugbear, the song makes way for the nostril flared canter of Végtelen kék. Like previous songs it goes for the jugular from the off but is soon unveiling new pastures of flavouring and imagination within an undulating soundscape, again warm coaxing embroiled in ferocious consumption of the senses and demanding savagery infused with contagious melodic and harmonic invention. As all great releases, numerous plays bring deeper and richer discoveries and rewards, song and Zeng as a whole no exception, nor indeed the quickly persuasive Égrengető. From its first rhythmic dance and post punk honed bassline within an elegant ambience, the song has ears and appetite gripped, never loosening its lure as guitars slip provocatively across ears with sonic radiance whilst the impressing vocals of Vasvári unveil a lyrical adventure which, though unfortunately we could not explore due to linguistic failings, has a heart easy to interpret at many times.
Emerging from the piercing sonic spirit of its predecessor, Űzött descends on ears and thoughts with a sense of celestial vastness and emotional intimacy. Within this a doom bred monotony also adds to the challenging erosive atmosphere and magnetic intrusion cast, the song absorbing on the way to a momentary silence between songs as provocative as the sounds before it and of Hajad szél which floats in on melodic radiance and infectious endeavour. The song keeps satisfaction full if without reaching the creative and persuasive heights of earlier tracks but again each listen reveals new elements and layers to be bound up in al the same.
The volatile Széthulló színek brings Zeng to a close, its agitated energy and charge amidst an open fury a thrilling rock ‘n’ roll bellow which as now expectedly grows and stretches into fresh creative scenery and imagination rich craft. It is potent end to a release which as stated earlier just grows in strength and potency with every involvement. Perihelion is a band easy to get a healthy appetite for, they and a creative journey with the potential of even bigger, bolder exploits ahead rearing in expectations.
Zeng is released October 19th digitally and on CD via Apathia Records @ https://apathiarecords.bandcamp.com/album/zeng
https://www.facebook.com/perihelionofficial http://www.apathiarecords.com/
Pete RingMaster 19/10/2015
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