Though an album which is no rush to
immerse and transfix the imagination, the self titled debut from
Finnish occult rock band Jess And The Ancient Ones is a real
highlight of the year. The release is quite stunning, a collection of
songs which wrap their skilled charm around the senses for an
experience of melodic splendour and captivating majesty. Quite a few
debuts have stood out already this year but very few as elegant and
inciteful as that from Jess and the Ancient Ones.
The band was formed in 2010 by
guitarists Thomas Corpse and Thomas Fiend, their intent to explore
magical realms beyond the mundane. The band grew with third guitarist
Von Stroh, bassist Fast Jake, drummer Yussuf, and Abraham on
keyboards being added alongside the stunning vocals of Jess. Their
sound is an evolved fusion of psychedelic rock and metal with wide
influences from the likes of Mercyful Fate, Roky Erickson, Iron
Maiden and Abba adding inspiration and texture to their imagination.
Signing with Svart Records in 2011, the band released debut single
‘Breath of the Zodiac’ to great acclaim inspiring eager
anticipation for and rewarded by their album.
‘Prayer for Death and Fire’
opens the release and right away has the senses fully awake and
enamoured. The song is a wonderfully crafted piece of melodic
enticement which smoulders within the primal energies of riffs and
rhythms. Once the glorious voice of Jess weaves its mesmeric charms
and the rumbling and scowling bestial lines of Fast Jake prowls
ravenously, the song moves to a higher plain.
It is a powerful and elegant start
which is immediately exceeded by ‘Twilight Witchcraft’, a
psychedelic folk flavoured piece of musical shadow. The track has a
warmth which is siren like but within its safety a venomous dark
energy pervades every second of the rapture, a seductive mistress
with black intent.
The album though merely seven
songs in length is a full feast of musical alchemy, the likes of
‘Ghost Riders’ and ‘13th Breath of the Zodiac’ offering an
unpredictable expanse of emotive energies and persuasive pleasure
which envelopes fully.
The album closes with the
excellent pair ‘Devil (in G minor)’ and ‘Come Crimson Death’.
The first is an irresistible tease of jazz swagger and wanton beauty
whilst the last a twelve minute gem of evocative harmonics and
inciteful imagery, a startling end to a truly impressive album.
Pete RingMaster
Band info: www.jessandtheancientones.com
Label info: www.svartrecords.com
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