Originally written by Jordan Campbell
Before delving into Soma, a brief digression:
On its face, an EP should be more appealing than a 74-minute opus in 2014. Time is at a premium in our info-overload musical climate, and respecting that of the listener is a virtue.
But beyond common courtesy, compact releases are sublime from a business standpoint. EPs are no longer stopgaps or record label cash-grabs; they’re the most effective way for a new-ish band to make a short, sharp impact. And if you can combine the old leave-’em-wanting-more ethos with the ability to rattle off releases consistently? You’ll be pretty much unfuckwithable right now.
Kinda like Bölzer.
This Swiss duo has generated a significant amount of traction over the past eighteen months, to the delight of many–and to the chagrin of a vocal minority. The latter’s derision is rooted on their approach to releasing new music and the ensuing attention they’ve garnered: They released three songs in 2012 (the Roman Acupuncture demo), three more the following year (the world-quaking Aura EP), and now two tracks in the form of Soma.
They’ve shot to improbable prominence by releasing what feels like…well, next to nothing. Exclusivity, however, has amplified the band’s mystique. This atypical method of releasing their bent-weird blackened death has been oddly beneficial, especially in combination with their numerous festival appearances. (Their dual sets at MDF were the realest explosions of enthusiasm of the weekend, and their stupid-long merch line was proof of potency.)
Bölzer just has “it” right now, an intangible coolness concocted from meticulousness and merit, not from semi-mainstream media buzz and/or label-backed marketing. Bölzer’s rise wasn’t born of hype. It’s organic. (Iron Bonehead and Invictus Productions are known for quality, not business acumen.) People like Bölzer ’cause they kick ass, and if you’re getting pissy over a new, unique band making waves the old-fashioned way–through word-of-mouth and hard work–maybe it’s time to cut the cannibalistic bullshit and let these guys shine.
But how quickly is that star going to burn? It can fizzle just as quickly as it was ignited. CanSoma live up to Bölzer’s freshly-established reputation for radness?
In a word, yes.
That there’s only two tracks here is disappointing only because “Steppes” has been walking on Soundcloud for a few months already, making established Bölzerites already intimate with about a third of this EP’s running time. “Steppes” is a sinewy corkscrew, though, rivaled only by the much-fellated “Entranced by the Wolfshook” for catalog supremacy. Added bonus: The linchpin riffjangle is oddly reminiscent of the melody from Mike and the Mechanics‘ “Silent Running,” adding gnarly garnish to the song’s seamless blend of militant strikes and Blut Aus Nord squalls.
That BAN vibe carries into the thirteen-minute “Labyrinthian Graves,” where KzR’s ten-string twists and turns and churns through terrestrial territories unknown. It’s a cool cut (and perfectly titled), but stacked against the towering “Steppes,” it feels like a bit like a b-side.
And therein lies the sole drawback to the band’s method of releasing music. The great tracks recieve their proper praise, but at the expense of perception. Aura‘s “Entranced by the Wolfshook” is so fucking good that it’s regarded as a something of an anomaly, and “Steppes” is similarly (and paradoxically) handicapped by its badassery. And that’s a bizarre thing to wrangle with in this album-oriented subculture. We don’t do hit singles, we do consistency, and Bölzer’s choppiness flies in the face of convention.
FUCK convention. Bölzer have released almost 50 minutes of music since 2012, and a significant portion of that material is guilty of being the most engaging heavy metal since Vindsval ripped out his filter, Boris-style. Lose yourself and enjoy the ride.
