Starquake – the project led by multi-instrumentalist Mikey Wenzl – return with Brawls and Witches.
Another fine work of thumping 1970s inspired heavy/prog rock with a couple of surprises thrown in.
I’m a big fan of Mikey’s previous Starquake albums of Times that Matter, Space Time Matter and At the Circus. Brawls and Witches squarely hits the spot too..
Six tracks at around a forty minute running time – about half of which is taken up by the superb epic of Beautiful Dystopia throughout which Mikey out-Arjens progmiester general Arjen Lucassen.
This opens the album and it is quite something to behold. A quietish opening section emerges in to a big, driving riff with swirling organs and whatnot making for a dramatic scene.
As the song progresses, Mikey’s vocal and lyrics are dystopian with the topical slant of the creeping of AI and technology taking over our lives. All a bit Terminator and Skynet.
We have a melodic section after the heavy part, a return to the big heavy riffs and swirling organs and keys, a bit of techno/dance, a bit of barbershop quartet, more heavy riffing and some gorgeous guitar through the lead out.
You might be thinking that with all the variation that Beautiful Dystopia might be a stuttering mess and that techno and barbershop styles have no place. However, most certainly not so. The epic flows together well and is a cohesive and enjoyable mostly heavy prog rock tale.
Here it is:
God is an Atheist comes next. A punchy hard rocker with plenty of bite and a big chorus. Not far removed from say Uriah Heep.
Still Loving You Baby takes things in to 1980s style melodic rock territory. Very catchy and a monster, infectious hook.
Memento Mori throws in more variation being a swirling instrumental with retro guitars and more swirling Hammond organ mixing in together. More Heep similarities (no bad thing) which would have fitted in well on say Wonderworld.
Then as if a heavy prog rock epic, a melodic rocker and a proggy instrumental isn’t enough variation, Mikey closes the album with a smokey, blues-infused number.
With all the different styles, everything hangs together well and it’s a really enjoyable album. Digital and physical versions available from the Starquake BandCamp page:
https://starquake1.bandcamp.com
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