HAGO

Listening diary 6th March, 2021: Hago - s/t (progressive metal, 2018)

One of the coolest (mostly) instrumental records I've heard in a while, especially from the prog scene. Shades of Tigran Hamasyan and the folk metal of Orphaned Land or Myrath but really these guys are doing their own thing, and they manage to keep an excellent balance of memorable melodies to go with the flashy solos and additional instruments. I'm a well known sax fiend so I definitely welcome the inclusion here, especially when it's given a major part. A really cool mix of creative and well-written music, and an enormously welcome shot in the arm to instrumental prog metal in my view.

7.2 (3rd listen)

Part of my listening diary from my facebook music blog - www.facebook.com/TheExoskeletalJunction

Promising start from a band that describe their music as ''falafel djent'' - not entirely an accurate description but hints to some of the main musical avenues they explore: near-eastern music and heavy progressive metal. The other main component, and perhaps most prominent, is that of jazz-fusion, which they execute brilliantly. Two members, Yoel Genin and Yogev Gabay, are also in the Israeli progressive metal band Distorted Harmony, therefore the bonding is already there for a mature result.

Trioscapes, Seven Impale and Panzerballet are some of the bands that come to mind listening to this debut album; if you add the near-eastern influences to their music, this pretty much sums up what you are expecting to get out of this experience. The focus is more on the development of the composition on jazz-fusion substrates instead of the building on progressive metal and later adding the jazz sprinkle. Saxophone is prominent, hence the resemblance to the aforementioned bands, but the tilt towards the Israeli music moves them away from being directly compared to them, apart from perhaps 2-3 tracks where the influences are stronger.

For a near-purely instrumental album, structure and cohesion marks are high, with interest fading slightly in tracks where the Panzerballet madness virus strikes (Antikythera, Tralfamadore). Varied compositions such as ''Shdemati'', ''Aurora'', ''Ancient Secrets'' contain most of what a demanding progressive metal fan would ask for in a new venture. As it stands, ''HAGO'' is an intelligent, skilled set of musical tracks demonstrating prowess and creativity. Taking this to the next level with a more structured approach and musical concept might produce an album even more memorable. 3.5 stars.

Hago is an avant-garde metal band from the United States. Founded in 2014, Hago is founded by guitarist Yoel GENIN, drummer Yogev GABAY and bassist Guy BERNFIELD at Berklee College of Music. They recruited saxophonists and pianists. Their style blends with jazz and Middle Eastern influences, so that they also have Hebrew songs in live performances. This year's first title of the same name was Hago. They called the fusion of these three elements (avant-garde metal, jazz, and Middle East elements) called Falafel Djent, Falafel meant sandwiches, and Djent was a recent rise in a metallic style. The acoustic effect of a distorted electric guitar during stuffy music (using a medium-high gain to produce distortion while playing an electric guitar). There are also many musicians who have joined in friendship, mainly adding vocal and string arrangements. The album is purely instrumental and has no lyrics (except for Shdemati and Aurora), but from the cover and titles, it seems to be related to ancient Egypt and incorporates a number of science fiction elements. This is, after all, avant-garde metal's favorite concept. The beginning of the fusion of the three elements, but the third song of Gefilte Kabab's bass line and Middle Eastern flavor is very interesting and good to listen to, the latter stage of the piano is also very attractive, considered a highlight of the album. The saxophone in the fourth epic Ancient Secrets is very beautiful. The former is a psychedelic atmosphere (to be freed from any Falafel Djent), and finally the avant-garde metal returns. The beginning of Shdemati is reminiscent of the Black Sabbath, and then the guest performers began to sing lyrics in unknown languages ​​(Hebrew?). It was still quite pleasing. With the rear speakers, there was a sense of madness, much like KC. The longest epic Aurora started with a bit of jazz, then fell into a melancholic female voice, continued the beautiful saxophone in the middle, and finally entered the Falafel Djent stage like the previous epic. The last piano performance in Antikythera is like a big bead and beads, and the finale, Tralfamadore, features a number of magnificent strings, a crisp acoustic guitar in the back and the back, After the common climax of instrumental music, it enters a state of tranquility and ends its professional training. This is obviously a debut album that is too high above average. It can be said that the band has achieved the style of combining the metal + jazz + Middle East style. It is currently a four-star to four-and-a-half star, highly recommended! In the future, you will hear again and again.