2/25/2018

Zombie Picnic - Rise of a New Ideology


I live in Dublin. Since I moved here from Poland I've heard many jokes and tales of Limerick. Mostly about how dangerous and sad city is that. I was there few times and even though it is not as bad as the tales says you can tell gang wars had a massive impact on what that city is now. Underrated. No wonder why new ideology rises exactly there...


Zombie Picnic are from Limerick. Their first album "A Suburb of Earth" from 2016, oscillated roughly around psychodelic post rock, as the name itself suggests. Full of worrisome sounds of songs titled like "The B141 Frequency" or "The Cylindrical Sea". However that record was a bit random, not very even. Few times I get lost in sounds there. Their second piece, which will be released in just couple of a days is quite different. Actually totally different in every aspect!


Titled "Rise of a New Ideology" gets the attention from the first seconds of listening. Sample of interview with some modern thinker tells us: "democracy cannot survive". Next titles: "They See Science as Dangerous", "DEFCON", "Life-Support Systems", See Beyond" and finishing the album "Anger in Storage (Denial Will Follow)" aren't give us any optimistic view of the future. Through all record only vocal we'll get are samples of voices of Bill Moyers, Isaac Asimov or Franklin D. Roosvelt. OK, that might be misleading. These parts aren't the key to that music, they are only accompaniment to it. Whole is quite disturbing. For example, we hear about Mass Extinction but music is very pleasant. It's like we already agreed on how it will all end. There is nothing to fight for. The scariest thing though is we might recognise the voices which predict all these horrible things, we know them from the past, however whenever we turn television on we see that things actually happening now. "Rise of a New Ideology" is like God's finger saying "I told you...". It doesn't have to shout. It might be just a whisper. It's very loud in our heads though, cause we know he's right. 


Is it psychodelic? Yes it is, but not really in a meaning we know psychodelic rock. The story definitely works on my imagination but I wouldn't call that album a psychodelic rock piece though.  That's just not enough. What is it then? Well, we got here loads of post stuff in a best Mogwai style. But Zombie Picnic is way beyond that. This album is very progressive but not in Pink Floyd way. They don't try to prove anyone they can change tempo or play crazy solos, brake harmonious or do other prog stuff. They play it because they can. Period. Not for a single note I had a feeling they try to show off. It's natural and extremely pleasant in it's form, I wasn't overwhelmed with any sound, everything is beautifully balanced and dosed. Very even!


Album will be released on 9th of March by Golden Shred Records. It is available in pre order now in three variants. Digital, limited black vinyl, and super limited vinyl effect CD. Obviously I got vinyl and  I love it! Heavy weight black disc, very neat press. Brilliant labels! I love when labels refer to cover. Outer sleeve is also clean and neat. High quality paper, stunning cover. Id' love to get printed inner sleeve with all quotes from the album, with the pictures of their authors and some more of similar graphics from the cover but it is only plain white one. Well, can't get everything and I understand costs of these extravagancies.


You need a real talent to play psychodelic rock which isn't boring. Talent to write interesting songs. You need skill to play prog rock. Years of practice, blood, tears and sacrifices. Zombie Picnic have both. And with "Rise of a New Ideology" they found their place in music. New Ideology rises in the west... Behold.




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