Zeng « The RingMaster Review

Perihelion _RingMasterReview

With their last album, Zeng, still luring keen attention since its release last October, the Debrecen hailing Perihelion now immerse ears and imagination in further emotively and atmospherically fuelled landscapes through a new EP. The four track proposal of Hold, the Hungarian for moon, provides three new ventures into the band’s striking fusion of post rock/metal and their haunting take on Sycamore Trees, a track from the soundtrack of David Lynch’s Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me originally sung by jazz vocalist Jimmy Scott. Together they captivate and lure the listener into shadowy avenues and epic landscapes of sound and emotion; provocative pastures seemingly expanding and becoming more enjoyably fascinating with every listen.

Formed in 2014, though apparently the band had been active well before then in a different guise, Perihelion released their first EP in 2014, Nap fele néz sopon followed by a self-titled album that same year. As mentioned, Zeng pushed the band towards greater awareness last year while revealing the increasing growth and boldness in the band’s sound and a maturity which has been honed even further within Hold.

The EP opens with the seriously thrilling Feneketlen and straight away keys warmly hug the senses. An initial melodic jangle stirs ears as provocative enterprise and suggestiveness courtesy of guitarists Gyula Vasvári and Krisztián Szabados equally wraps the listener in melodically and emotionally enthralling expression, their descriptive prowess matched by the former’s instantly impressing and rousing vocals. Melancholic and beautiful, atmospherically majestic and intimately plaintive, the track seduces ears and imagination with ease with the bass of Balázs Hubicska just as gripping while adding a dark contrast to the sonic elegance around it.

Cover _RingMasterReview Setting the pinnacle of the release straight away, the outstanding opener is followed by the equally dramatic and emotionally fired Szárnyakon. Its climate is far muggier than its predecessor and carrying volatility which infests everything from the tenacious and inventive rhythms of drummer Barna Katonka, through the poetic yet clamorous invention of the guitars, to Vasvári’s heart flamed vocals. Again ears and thoughts are quickly and eagerly involved, continuing to be so as the song evolves into the EP’s quieter title track. It is calm in voice and tone though it also has a simmering tempestuousness to it with escapes midway to challenge and equally excite the senses and appetite, even if the absorbing track does not quite ignite the passions to the heights of the first pair.

Sycamore Trees retains all the mystery and dark theatre of the original while bathing its crooning roar in thicker post rock atmospherics. It is a fine way to finish off the EP, the guitars replacing the brass bred jazziness of the soundtrack version with their own emotively empowered sonic imagination as Vasvári again vocally captivates.

Hold is one of those proposals which you fear might miss the depth of attention it deserves but it certainly be a big step in the breakthrough of Perihelion towards those intense spotlights. There is something different and special about the band’s sound which differs from most other post rock and post metal proposals; that is reason enough to give their EP a real go.

The Hold EP is released on CD and digitally May 20^th via Apathia Records @ https://apathiarecords.bandcamp.com/album/hold

https://www.facebook.com/perihelionofficial

Pete RingMaster 20/05/2016

Perihelion_RingMaster Review

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.

Cover_RingMaster Review 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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