Norwegian band SEVEN IMPALE was formed in 2010, and is a six man strong ensemble. “Beginning / Relieve” is their first ever EP, released by Karisma Records while the band is recording material for their first full length album.
The most noticeable fact about this band is that they have jazz and jazzrock at the very core of their excursions. The bass and drums in particular adds a distinct jazz flavor on most movements, with the saxophone an additional instrument used to either add that stylistic touch or to emphasize it. This is done in a number of different manners though, albeit perhaps somewhat similar in approach.
Mind Riot is a brief construction that opens with staccato riffs and distorted saxophone as the key instrument motifs, shifting to something more of a brass rock oriented, dark and eerie piece. Blind to All is a more intense but smooth affair blending jazzy vocals, organ and intense sax soloing on top of a darker guitar driven foundation, gradually easing up on intensity for a frail lead-out. Beginning/Relieve alternates between gentler themes and intense metal-tinged sequences sporting myriads of instrument layers and a massive soundscape.
Measure 15 is a gentler effort that sports acoustic guitars, violin and cello as the supplemental features to the lead vocals, while final cut What Am I Sane For opens in a more delicate manner with bass and sax as the central instruments prior to a shift into a darker toned, majestic landscape with some intense brass rock or metal details as a nice little detail prior to ebbing out on a gentle organ and keyboards construction.
Almost 25 minutes of constantly changing and developing themes and movement, with a firm foundation in jazzrock but stretching from gentle chamber rock to almost industrial inspired, dark and brooding and energetic displays. That’s the nature of Seven Impale’s highly eclectic and spirited debut EP “Beginning / Relieve”, and one to seek out by those who really enjoy jazzrock being taken in fairly innovative and most certainly intense directions as well as those generally fond of challenging musical escapades that aims to disrupt or stretch stylistic conventions and expectations both.
My rating: 84/100
