“Subnormal Dives” is the kind of album that I review only because of its anarchic musical philosophy, and, moreover, because its musical intent has everyhting to do with the foundations of Metal music. I have to be coherent with what I write here. If I praise musical liberty and the use of experimental features plus some unusual musical solutions, I have to review an album like this even though I do not like it. And, indeed, this music is not one of my favorites.
The tittle “Subnormal Dives” tells a lot about the music my dear child of th night will find in the album. It is really subnormal with dives into the anormal, if I stand correct. It is not Metal; it is not Jazz; it is not noise music; it is a blend of all of them. The name of the band also Byonoisegenerator tells what they are; a blend of biological features with noise. A kind of blend of an organic creature with electronic or robotic elements. Something like a Borg, a musical Borg, if you know what I am saying.
Byonoisegenerator wrote an album that goes far from experimental; it is pure noise and musical chaos with very little melody and a pungent aggression. So, everything to do with Extreme Metal music. It is fair to say “Subnormal Dives” is much more connected to noise music than Metal itself, however, noise it is an important part of Metal music. Well, in fact, the noise in Metal music is not the noise some alternative music considers. Noise in Metal is the pure use of distorted guitars, loud drumming, and, gutural or harsh vocals. Noise music, on the other hand, uses real noises as electronic effects, incidental music, or, other kinds of noise anyone can create. It is also the use of guitar feedbacks and everything related. What Byonoisegenerator do here is more connected with a blend of Jazz, so, the use of saxophones in all songs. I beg your pardon, but the sound of the saxophones here took me to a place only the ones that old as I am will remember; the Pink Panther cartoons. I do not know acid jazz, the blend of electronic music and Jazz, but I guess the intent here is very much the same.
It is not only the use of the elements aforementioned, it is also the subvertion of some musical standards as melody and the melodic construction. “Subnormal Dives“ sounds a little like Free Jazz, just a little as the chords are not so visible as they should be and tempo is only a convention. Sometimes the structures go that way, but not only. There are no chorus, no singing parts, no guitar licks, and everything that could give the fan that warm feeling of the music one is used to listen. That’s the part that attracted me. The part I did not like was with the saxophones. It is personal. I do not like saxophones. However, as I said before, it is the musical anarchic intent that attracted me to the album and made me write this review. I have to be coherent. Subversion is really something that attracts me. If it is musical subversion, better yet. That is all.
Byonoisegenerator “Subnormal Dives“ will be released on June 13th via Transcending Obscurity Records.
Track Listing:
- 1. Eb
- 2. IQ69Exaltations
- 3. NULL
- 4. NoSuccessToday!
- 5. UVB76
- 6. LoveChargedDiveBombs
- 7. I’mNot20Anymore (21Ne)
- 8. 4HO
- 9. deBroglieNeverExisted
- 10. 5mgInspiredVibes (Bonus Track)
Watch official music video here:
I’m just a lucky guy who has chosen metal to live with for a long time. Metal changed my life for good. It made me more confident and stronger. Metalheads are naturally far away from the mass mediocrity and don’t accept impostures from anybody else. Metal is more than music, it’s a life changing oportunity!