PRE-EMPTIVE FALSE RAPTURE

This is an enjoyable, quirky, fun and experimental-sounding album which draws from Norwegian Metal, Grind, Funk, Psyche, Disco, Techno, Zeuhl, Krautrock, RIO, Doom, Avant, Canterbury Scene, Punk, Jazz, Acid House, and NWBHM influences, as well as others. A qualm one may have with the album is that it can be rather derivative, but I find that can deepen one's appreciation as one picks up on musical reference points. It sounds so familiar (it has retro qualities), despite the diversity, and I noticed certain pieces (parts of tracks) that practically seem lifted from other works, aside from wearing the influences on its sleeve (but, sadly, these are not mentioned in the liner notes). I've thought that it might be a fun exercise to spot the numerous musical references. Being a Magma fan, the direct Magma references were particularly noticeable. However, one can look at this in part as homage to certain bands and styles, while the whole package put together is quite unique. The overall package is really quite ingenious (some will find it not cohesive enough).

Nordic Curse is sort of an homage to Norwegian metal bands, but I also discern a Black Sabbath influence in this track. Nice.

Tonyte is a great driving funk/disco track with some Zeuhl flavour -- lots of groove, but, be warned, it's not very danceable.

Pronoid: I've heard the Graham Massey's remix was quite popular in some nightclubs. It's a house/ funk/ disco/ breakbeat/ post-punk piece with a New Wave influence. I like it.

Circus 9000: This is a great track. The craziness reminds me somewhat of Fantomas and Koenjihayakkei. This really feels like a circus. The post punkishness is interrupted by a chamber music segment a la Univers Zero, or later chamber rock bands.

Moss Covered Obelisk is the Prog epic, along with Spokes of Uridium. It starts off in Magma's Theusz Hamtaahk territory, and later moves into Köhntarkösz territory, and has Paga qualities (like Une Parcelle d'Urantia). it's very obvious to me that the bass work is inspired by Bernard Paganotti. It also has hints at groups such as Fantomas and Kramus. It's a very good track which I'm not describing adequately. The sax reminds me of Zorn, and the track has Zappaesque and Sun Ra qualities.

Leave this Ruined Husk is really noisy and has, again Fantomas like qualities, and a jazzy experimental metal, as well as a post-punk attitude.

Symbolic 180 Degrees is difficult for to describe at this time, so I won't really, but it has post-punk qualities with passages reminiscent of Vortex... or Zao.

Death Is Certain is doomy metal but with avant/ jazzy qualities/ passages. The growling makes for interesting contrast. I really like the repetitive Canterbury-tinged chamber rock passage in it.

Astral Suicide is crazy and noisy, but a little spacey too.

Egg 'n Bass: I'm guessing that this name is an EGG reference (the band, not the ovum). It's a fine little electronic/ IDM piece.

Spokes of Uridium is a very good track. Very funky and cool with extreme jazz-metal elements. One of the best tracks.

Anyway, I really like this album, and despite any evident influences, I think that Chrome Hoof has something different to offer to Prog fans, and is well worth checking out. I love the contrast and diversity of styles, and despite having listened to this album many times, I'm constantly discovering things in the music (even if I have difficulty describing those things). Like Prog generally, it takes repeated spins to really get the music. I'm a real lover of funk, and so that is what drew me to the music originally, and I really dig their disco sound. It's great fun and with so much groove. This is musically different, yet familiar.

As for the rating, I am torn. Personally I'd like to give it four stars, yet three may be more appropriate. I'm giving it a four for now, but that is subject to change.

To redundantly repeat part of my C.H. bio: I recommend this for those who enjoy diversity in their music, and are not scared to take an alternative Prog route where the funky disco queen resides ensconced by chrome monks in her bizarre disco-ball palace.

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