Providing the second part in the Heart, Flesh, Skull and Bones concept, 4 EPs uniting to form one whole album, the Flesh EP is another rather tasty slice of rock ‘n’ roll from French band Harmonic Generator. Offering four lively and creatively dynamic tracks, something now pretty much expected from the hard rockers, the release is also a fresh step in the maturity of the Marseille quintet’s songwriting and sound.
Taking their name from a single by The Datsuns, Harmonic Generator emerged in 2005. They potently awoke attention to their presence with their debut EP three years later and even more so with their well-received first album When the Sun Goes Down in 2013. Since their first days, Harmonic Generator has had a live hunger taking in hundreds of shows across the years including European tours with Girlschool, Jeff Scott Soto, and Skintrade alongside their own ventures. The December of 2014 saw the first part of the Heart, Flesh, Skull and Bones project unveiled to strong praise. Recently the follow-up to the Heart EP was uncaged; Flesh like its predecessor recorded with Julien Liphard and mastered Logan Mader (Gojira, Dagoba) and showing the rich steps and evolution fuelling the second decade of the band.
Opening up with Dance On Your Grave, the EP quickly has ears attentive with the opening challenge of vocalist Quentin Barthes-Villegas within a controlled mesh of sound. There is a sense that things are itching to erupt even in those first seconds, and so they do as swinging grooves and rhythms unite with feisty riffs and the thick beats of Alex Roussel. Like a punk infused mix of Foo Fighters and Velvet Revolver, the song snarls and bites with its virulent catchiness and Barthes-Villegas’ rousing vocal delivery around which guitarists Charl’ Roussel and Renaud Satre cast an infectious web of hooks and grooves perfectly tempered by the throbbing strings of bassist Nico Helinger.
It is an irresistible anthemic start to the EP, a spirit and appetite rousing proposition eagerly backed by Secret Garden. The band’s latest single; it makes a more restrained start though vocals again stand bold in the midst of reserved riffs and crisp beats. Things never quite erupt as in the first track yet the song quickly shows itself a forcibly infectious incitement with harmonies and melodic enticement warm addictive lures in old school hued classic rock ‘n’ heavy roll.
Something You Need To Know is next, it also a tempered surge into ears with the alluring bassline of Helinger a potent coaxing as guitars almost teasingly dangle their melodies and sonic enterprise for keen consumption. The beats of Alex Roussel equally have a rein on them matching that of the vocal incitement, it all working though as an increasingly tempting proposal. A slow burner in many ways to those before, the song certainly develops a drama which blossoms with every minute, engaging and richly satisfying ears and imagination especially as strings and bluesy endeavour provide a final layer of temptation to eagerly embrace.
Bringing the EP to a close, Flesh top and tailed by its best tracks, The End is another blues rock scented proposition which easily slips through ears as the track expands and reveals its multi-flavoured rock ‘n’ roll landscape. As with the first song, everything about the encounter has a contagious and adventurous air to its creative mischief. Certainly, as in all songs, there are many familiar hues and textures involved but all honed into something tenaciously and refreshingly Harmonic Generator.
The Harmonic Generator sound has come a long way over the past ten years or so with plenty of potential for even greater exploits to outshine what are thoroughly enjoyable temptations of the Flesh.
The Flesh EP is out now across most online stores.
https://www.facebook.com/HarmonicGenerator http://twitter.com/HarmonicGen
Pete RingMaster 05/05/2016
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