It has been a few years since Northland quartet {Tempist Fujit} (yes, the spelling is quite deliberate) have released a single, but they are back with Fallen, which is a great introduction to the band for anyone who has yet to come across them. The band are a hard rock outfit with a kick ass singer in Lisa Walters, who has a great ability to hit long notes and keep them pure and on pitch, yet also has plenty of emotion and breadth in her range. Here is someone who can really sing, and the song is designed as a vehicle for that, building throughout the verse and really kicking in at the chorus, before dropping back down for the second verse.
The change in pace allows us to really concentrate on the music beneath, which is a delight as while there is a commercial riff driving it all along, there is a great deal going on here. The multi-layered guitars can be clean or have just the right amount of pedal, and the solo is short and just right, but when paying attention to the bass one realizes that there are many different techniques being employed, some of which are more commonly used in funk, yet Harlen Keepa uses whatever is right for the moment. The way he combines with guitarist Douglas Gordon is superb, with both weaving together to create a tapestry of sound, always commercial, yet building and complex.
While the production overall is strong, I do think the drums are just a little too bright and could have been dropped back a notch. Chris Butler is doing a great job, but the snare in particular is just a little too in your face, and consequently the sound is a little out of balance. However, this is a great song and one can only hope there is an album or EP to follow soon as this is melodic hard rock which demands to be played on repeat.
Rating: 7/10
