The first time I heard this band it
was live as local openers for Montreal's Barn Burner. During their
set, I could hear the influence of bands such as Iron Maiden,
Mastodon and Scale the Summit. A quick glance at their ReverbNation
page reveals their influences listed as those three bands. Whether
it's a lucky coincidence or they changed it after reading my live
tweets that stated as much, I don't know. What I do know is that
combination, with some Children of Bodom and Metallica thrown into
the mix makes for four tracks that I feel are very good as they are
but hint at the promise for even better things to come. This demo
material is mostly based on concepts/songs first conceived about 6-7
years ago. Thus they reflect the struggles of later adolescence yet
convey a maturity not seen in some people twice their age.
“Undone” is poetic representation
of a common problem with those in their late teens and early 20's.
You struggle to define yourself but it doesn't really work. So as
the depression sets in, drugs become the answer of choice. Of course,
in most cases, this only exacerbates the problem. It works for the
moment but eventually you will become “Undone”. This hits home
with me. In my first year of university, I sank hard trying to be
what I thought others wanted and when that didn't work, I turned the
drinking from social party guy to literally sitting alone drinking my
sorrows away. I came “Undone”. It's in this song I heard the most
Mastodon influence. Especially in the powerful chorus. It's fitting
for just screaming it out to release whatever it is you have bottled
up inside. “Reject. The Flesh. Upheaval. Destroy. Embrace. The
Death. Becoming. Undone.”
“Chasing Me” opens with a sweet
Iron Maiden style lick before evolving into a deeply personal and
somewhat cryptic tome full of struggle and pain. Despite feeling
hopeless, the character still retains enough fight to carry on. The
duality of pain and anger (those feelings almost always run together)
is reflected in vocalist James Wartman's vocal style which balances
maturity and malice..
On instrumental “Abaddon”
keyboardist Matt Kidson really gets to stretch his fingers out. It's
still a guitar driven track but the keys are given more room to find
their way to the forefront. The band's prog tendencies are on full
display here. This is the track that made me think of Scale the
Summit. It's like waves of the heavy, punchy (think Metallica's
Justice and Metallica) and the softer, soaring keyboard
parts. Drummer Thomas Fleming shows off here as well with timely
accents and fills and does more than simply keep the beat. I got over
my instru-metal phase a few years ago but I can still be swayed on
occasion and this song does the trick. It actually opened me up to
try the new Pelican EP that I was going to pass over.
The organ-ic tone of the keys on
“Antitheist” really sets the mood for this track which is
basically calling out organized religion. An infectious and groovy
riff plays with the creepy keys until Wartman boils over with
unrestrained venom. The frustration of the previous track's trials
take their toll and he lashes out. It's placement at the end of the
EP is quite cathartic. It also works well as a show closer.
The EP was recorded – rather hastily
– for Band Slam Kingston prior the performance at which I first saw them. At the time of the recording they were without a bassist.
Between then and the show they added Greg Sheir on bass and his
addition really beefs up the overall sound and completes the band.
Basalisk is working on revamped versions of the songs on this demo
that include Shier as well as new tracks. The band is surprising
themselves with the direction of the new material so I imagine us
listeners will be surprised as well. Whether they get heavier (my
hope for anyone) or proggier makes no matter. Basalisk, in my
opinion, are a band to watch for in the Kingston scene. Hopefully
they can get the opportunity to showcase themselves more in the area
as well as spread their music beyond the region. Other cities (and
you!) deserve to hear this band.
www.reverbnation.com/Basalisk
www.twitter.com/BasaliskBand
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