Utopia – Shame
Utopia – Shame
Self-Released
Release Date: 02.02.24
Running Time: 34:26
Review by Oli Gonzalez
8/10
APF Records. A label that commands huge respect within the Manchester region, and further afield. As such, I was excited to get my hands on the upcoming release for one of their relatively new recruits, Utopia. I was more curious to see what the band’s technical metal band would entail, especially with the label being known for its vast array of sludge and doom metal style acts being on their roster.
Born in early 2020 (that year when we were all stuck at home), creative force and band leader John enlisted the help of members from Leprous and Virvum, amongst many other musicians from high profile acts to write the band’s debut release, “Stalker”. This created more of a super band feel on a record that transcended many musical genres from jazz and lounge, right through the heaviest ends of extreme metal! The band aim to take this energy into their latest album, “Shame”. Lets see how this unfolds!
Well. Honestly. Where to start with dissecting this eclectic mix of art forms! Have you ever had one of those busy mid-week nights when you get home hungry, you look in your cupboard and fridge for a snack, then you throw together some of the most random ingredients to throw together a meal that shouldn’t work but does? That’s kind of what’s happening here from a musical perspective. Except that whilst seeming random on the surface, there’s a much deeper complexity and level of detail to the compositions, and the final product is fascinating! After all, APF don’t sign duds!
The album’s opening song ‘Machiavelli’ is certainly on the heavier end! As a teenager, I discovered Beneath The Massacre; another technical metal band. I was drawn to their balls-to-the-wall intensity, as they certainly pulled no punches with their outright brutal musical assault. Listening to ‘Machiavelli’ invoked a lot of these emotions for me, so that was a pleasant trip down memory lane. Pretty much everything I said there about Beneath The Massacre – i.e. the BRUTALITY – can also be applied to Utopia, as they take a similar no prisoners approach. Though there’s a more welcome sharpness and brightness to the guitars, and a rather delightful jazz inspired outro to the song. Nice start.
Some of these more jazz and lounge inspired elements make an appearance in the early stages of ‘Shame’ and ‘Sun Damage’, which when combined with the sheer unrelenting heaviness from the drums and bass later on is definitely unlike anything I’ve heard before. No wonder APF Records were so keen on signing them!
That frantic explosion of technical death metal will definitely get some bodies moving and bodies flying at the right venue! We see other examples were jazz and prog are combined with tech-death. I think it’s intelligent and ambitious. Sadly though, it can feel a little too scattergun and mad scientist at times, especially as the passages and compositional ideas move very quickly. Perhaps too quick. Without really getting chance to bed in.
As such, I found myself more drawn to songs that I felt took a more stripped down, back to basics approach. The likes of ‘Social Contracts’ and ‘Waking Visions’, which seem to be built upon a good old stoner rhythmic foundation, with the guitars, bass and drums locking in elegantly to create some nice riffage and walls of sound. That psychedelic passage in the middle of the latter is a welcome change of pace too, and temporary respite from the heaviness.
Despite the musical chaos, lead vocalist Chris does an excellent job of providing consistency in his vocals. Consistently fierce and uncompromising growls and roars. Gnarly!
‘Moving Gently Towards The Grave’, the closing track, is perhaps the crown jewel for me. It’s another stripped back, doomy stoner kind of affair, taking a less is more approach. Still, the clever use of synths provides a rather pleasant aesthetic and additional melodic point of interest. Again, props for their creativity as this provides an almost tech doom style, if there was ever such a thing.
Production wise, the mixing and composition is fantastic. Everything gets the attention it deserves in the mix whilst retaining that necessary grit and raw emotion there.
Overall, this is definitely one of the more unique albums you’ll hear this year. I think the lads in Utopia may well be onto something here. Something good!
TRACKLISTING:
01. Machiavelli
02. Shame
03. Waking Visions
04. Sun Damage
05. Zither
06. Never Argue With An Idiot
07. Withering Away And Laughing
08. Social Contracts
09. The Gift Of Failure
10. Moving Gently Towards The Grave
LINE-UP:
John Bailey – Composer/Guitars
Chris Reese – Vocals
Arran McSporran – Bass
Jay Walsh – Drums/Producer
Jonathan Hill – Strings
Thomas Harrison – Synths
LINKS:
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