23 Nov 2020

Backseat Mafia reviews Pharaoh Overlord's '6'


They say:

THE FINNISH group Pharoah Overlord have made a welcome return with an expanded iteration of their previous era, amplifying the krautrock-influenced soundscapes established in 2019’s 5, joined by Sumac and Old Man Gloom’s Aaron Turner.

Here, Tomi Leppänen and Jussi Lehtisalo’s Kraftwerk-influenced, ravaging electronica melds with Aaron Turner’s harsh vocals for a futuristic attack of monomania-based jams. The vocal grit and cadence are an unexpected but sumptuous placement in these hellish soundscapes, a deeper bash into the panoramic and desolate dystopia of Pharaoh Overlord.

In its jam stylings and ever-present, pounding surge, 6 is coherent and cohesive, each track like an increasingly horrific horror movie scene. But for all its density, melodicism pervades.

Single “Path Eternal” shows off the band’s individual wielding of Kraftwerk-style murmurations. Melodic bleeps and synth arcs an ecstatic contrast to the guttural vocals; an overwhelming presence while still used unpredictably. Said vocals are, in fact, the most welcome addition to 6.

A longtime collaborator of the band, Turner’s melodic yet visceral vocal/lyrical style was originally intended for just a few tracks, but Tomi and Jussi were so awed that he ended up writing lyrics for the entire album...

Read the rest here: Backseat Mafia

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