Jena
Graboid – Argonauta Records
Hailing from Southern Italy, Jena’s latest release is the perfect combination of sludge, heavy metal, and rock n’ roll. Each song is quite different as they switch between more melodic to more brutal stylings. Guido Richini’s voice brings in an old-school rock and punk vibe which effortlessly switches from clean to heavier vocals. Their gritty guitar riffs, pounding drums and vibrant grooves pave the way throughout this album. Kicking off with ‘1k Riffs Man’ which starts almost whimsically then suddenly drops you into a powerful display of thundering guitars, basslines, and drums. It’s the perfect track to start and grab your attention for what lies ahead. ‘Seventh Sun of a Seventh Sun’ has strong blues elements and truly shows how versatile Richini can be. The final self-titled track ends the record perfectly with the juxtaposition to the previous song bringing back more heavy metal elements. Overall the album is an impressive show of what Jena can do mixing different influences and sounds, tying them together to create a kick-ass album that packs a punch.
Review by Aggy Gillon