Nephila
Nephila
With its sprawling spider legs, NEPHILA represents 70's space rock with masked band members, with flashing guitar solos and psychedelic melodies. The sound is hard to categorize into only one genre, but in the mix elements from all corners of the world are to be found. Melodies, parts, and rhythms crawl like a red pulsing thread through the songs from NEPHILA. The album contains seven tracks.
"White Bones" leads off the album. Heavy drums, bass and guitars open the track. Clean female vocals take it from there, with fuzzy bass notes in the verses. It has a catchy, energetic feeling, and at times the sound drops to just bass and vocals. They are right-this sound is very hard to categorize. "Who are you" opens with marching guitars, bass, and drums along with some keys. It builds into some harmonized vocals and a big chorus, along with a swinging sound. I get a little more of the70's vibe here, but it also sounds modern. It takes a bit of a darker turn around the ¾ mark, but then hope springs eternal moving towards the end.
"Mushroom Creatures" has more delicate melodies. I feel like putting on a pantsuit and smoking some herb in my golden rod colored den while the kids play outside. A fuzzy guitar solo connects the passages here quite nicely. "Belladonna" opens with spacey keys over organ notes. The vocals are soft, and charming. It opens up with soulful vocals in the second chorus, followed by some lead guitar notes. "Guidance to Agony" begins with a heavier guitar riff and then defers to the velvety female vocals sung in harmonies at times. The psychedelic aspects are dialed up after the half-way mark, and it ends with layered vocals.
"Clavada" is short burst of energy. Big guitars combine with bass and drums, along with keys. The vocals are seductive in their delivery. Once the drums get going, they are quite raucous. Simplicity at its finest. "Alla Gallaxers Centra" closes the album. It's a nine-minute beast, opening with soft clean guitar notes and harmonized vocals. It starts off as a ballad of sorts and then gains steam slowly throughout the song, ending with a guitar solo and a flurry of activity.
Let me be crystal clear that this is not Metal. But, that's OK. Both vocalists have super-sweet voices and the music is catchy enough to grab your interest. They definitely have their own sound and are confident musicians. That comes through strongly on the album. If you are hankering for something a little out of the ordinary, give this band some time.
7 / 10
Good
Songwriting
Musicianship
Memorability
Production
"Nephila" Track-listing:
1. White Bones
2. Who are you
3. Mushroom Creatures
4. Belladonna
5. Guidance to Agony
6. Clavada
7. Alla Gallaxers Centra
Nephila Lineup:
Jacob Hellenrud - Guitar/Songwriter
Johan Tinfors - Guitar
Christoffer Eriksson - Drums
Linus Elvin - Bass
Johan Larsson - Organ
Stina Olsson - Vocals
Josephine Asker - Vocals
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