SIMULACRUM - INFERNO

Is there a more prolific artist than John Zorn? Once he's composed and recorded an album he moves on to the next one. He has no interest in playing that music again. He released nine studio albums in 2023. With such a massive discography you almost need to hire a guide don't you? I'm not that person, in fact, it's been tough with my taste to find something he has done that is in my wheelhouse. He's an Avant-garde composer, conductor and sax player for the most part, but he wears more hats than that.

It was really his ELECTRIC MASADA project that opened my eyes to a part of his world that I am truly fascinated with. Such a powerful band with Zorn sounding like Pharoah on the sax. Some stuff he's done solo in the ball park to this music would be his "Simulacrum" series. The album I'm reviewing is from 2015 and part of that series. I would also highly recommend "The Painted Bird" and "The Garden Of Earthly Delights" from 2016 and 2017 respectively, and part of that series. I also found two of his more mellow records "Mount Analogue" from 2012 and "The Interpretation Of Dreams" from 2017 to be well worth tracking down.

Zorn takes care of the compositions and arrangements here while sitting back and letting this dynamic trio play his music. We get Kenny Grohowski on drums, Matt Hollneberg on guitar and John Medeski on organ. A power trio if there ever was one. Seven tracks worth 45 minutes and we get hammered on this one. It's such an interesting setup with the drums being such a key, and he is incredible. Then the organ and guitar solo but they also create layers at times.

The highlight is the almost 21 minute title track. What I love about this one is the space. The calms. Contrasts to the power that is on display throughout. It also contains some brief brutal prog moments, where they get extreme. This song is more about soundscapes early on but after 7 minutes it's all about the energy overload. But contrasts continue. I also want to mention the closer "Dreamplay" because it is also different like the title track. It's dark early with guitar before kicking in hard around 1 1/2 minutes. I like the contrasts on this one. The other five tracks just lay an absolute beating on us.

A solid 4 stars, and like the album's title and cover, this thing burns out of control.