The nu-metal train pulled out of the station quite some time ago, leaving behind only those few who really offered anything the teensiest bit unique. While the next train isn’t due into the trend station for another few years yet, it doesn’t stop some bands attempting to board anyway. I’m not sure this was quite exactly what I was expecting from the soloist Bre Beskyt Dyrene, whose self-titled project is labelled as transsexual vanguard violence. That said project is far more experimental and avant-garde, which lives right up to my expectations, might I add. However, Aquefrigide is a far more straight forward, even conformist affair.
Now, I don’t mean to deter potential listeners with the nu-metal thing; personally, I reside on the cusp somewhere mid way between liking and loathing the stuff. The positive is that Aquefrigide seem to have cherry-picked the best bits and incorporated them into their own sound, leaving out the insipid and the dreary Deftonisms and the “yo! I’m Fred Durst no.2, y’all!” wannabeisms. At its best, this is delivered with exuberance and vigour that makes me want to get up on the dancefloor and let of some steam. ‘Orighami’ unfolds with a spring in its step, owed to the crunchy riffs that lead up to a grunge-sodden chorus, while ‘Rammariohi’ has the kind of catchy grooves you can really sink your teeth into.
There are some strong melodies on here, such as on ‘Swastika’ with its clean industrial clatter, while the guitars yowl as much as the vocals. ‘Sophia’ has a dark, intriguing melody that draws you in nicely, while ‘Immensa’ comes in with a sinister stomp that breaks into a sudden paroxysm of scratching sounds and clamouring guitars that is all rather crazy. The vocals are all sung in his native Italian tongue, which adds a certain exoticism, while as the album progresses I pick up on a Disturbed vibe in his clean, meaty delivery with the sharp ascendancy in intonation at the end of the sentences.
This is the kind of album that hits you pretty much instantly; it doesn’t require a lot of work to get into but you’ll either be bopping your head to it, or else arranging it with the rest of your coaster collection. If there is one flaw, it is simply that with fifteen tracks it does get a little repetitive, and around the half way mark I’m feeling as though I’ve gone as far as I need to go with it. It isn’t going to change the world, nor will it make you sit up and think “holy shit! This is amazing!” but it is an enjoyable listen.
http://www.myspace.com/aquefrigide
http://www.myspace.com/subsoundrecords
http://www.myspace.com/brebeskytdyrene
