Reliqa “Secrets Of The Future”
After a period of teasing just what percolates in the minds of Sydneysiders Reliqa through mind and genre bending EP’s, they now drop their debut album, Secrets Of The Future, a diverse, perverse universe to submerse yourself in.
Recent single Dying Light opens up the album and it’s a statement of what to expect. Which considering it’s lined with vocal rap rhythms, prog beats, metalcore dynamic riffs means expect the unexpected.
Cave showcases the levels Monique Pym’s vocals can extend to, with ethereal harmonies contrasting with a venomous snarl. The music, and especially that breakdown, comes crashing down like a giant hammer in sonic glory.
Flower showcases the bands unique hyper speed prog style as the band, led by guitarist Brandon Hutchinson’s wild tapestry and Miles and Ben Knox’s nuclear powered rhythm section, slam dunk a breakdown from hell straight after a softly poetry spoken monologue by Pym.
Talking of stretching vocals and sounds, Sariah, floats out of your speakers and is like trying to catch clouds such is the subtly and uniqueness of the song.
There are a number of lyrical contexts involved in the album however be careful to lump it all into ‘soft sci-fi’. There are songs that touch on a dystopian future, Killstar, however others deal with personal aspects of managing emotions in difficult circumstances
Meanwhile the band continue to push themselves with Terminal, arguably the bands fastest output yet, a slick beat underneath that screams ‘remix this into an equally impressive dance track.’
Similarly, Keep Yourself Wake, which is an impressive lesson in bass playing from Miles Knox, also has an infectious dance rhythm that allows Pym’s ability to add theatre to her performance. This is also a candidate for a crushing dance remix such is the songs dexterity and shape shifting ambiance.
Physical, one of those songs about controlling your emotions, fortunately doesn’t control its content with Pym’s aggressive lyrics matching the songs ability to grasp different vibes into a cutting track that Northlane would be proud off.
At this stage, after nine songs that basically tap into every genre of metal do you recall what I said at the begging? Expect the unexpected and Two Steps Apart takes a left turn when you’re looking right. Pym’s vocals are beautiful however it’s the introduction of a piano, a restrained guitar solo and a harmony that could’ve been on high rotation of early 90’s MTV, that adds the cherry on top of this cake.
And that’s how the album rolls into the final lap, A Spark is a solemn soft balled, a story of emotion that if Sleep Token had done this, it would be on everyone’s rotation. Well it should be on yours too now.
The universe that is Reliqa is a wild ride of sonics, a roller coaster of vocals, a concentrated glass of red cordial when already hyperactive. They’ve harnessed that energy, contained it within twelve songs that bursts at the seams like a powered atom bomb. For a band that prides itself in unpredictably, ironically it’s arguably the most consistently brilliant album from an Australian artist this year.
Album Review By Iain McCallum
