Non male il (credo) terzo album dei Bergamaschi Hibagon, fautori di una musica astratta e strumentale, a volte che fa il verso al jazz, altre volte che invece affonda le sue radici nel djent e nel math core, per quasi 40 minuti di musica complessa e che rifiuta le barriere compositive. Ora, il rischio di un’operazione di questo tipo è quello, detto francamente, di menare qualche riff per un po’ di tempo e presentarci dei brani presunti come sperimentali, ma asettici dal punto di vista del feeling. E francamente era proprio questo il baratro in cui “Polyposmic” sembrava cadere, con dei brani dal secondo fino al quinto compreso un po’ poco significativi. Sicuramente eclettici, ma anche un po’ corti e invero insipidi. Bisogna aspettare da “Lamantino” in poi per sentire le capacità degli Hibagon, che aumentano l’ispirazione dei fraseggi di chitarra, mettono meglio a fuoco le loro influenze, e trasformano i loro brani in veri e propri miraggi che cambiano forma e sostanza in continuazione, con una bella evoluzione dallo jazz allo stoner rock conclusivo, passando per le parti rumoristiche di “Doboblique” o per “Was wog” che di fatto fa il verso a Satriani ma in versione più pesante e distorta, anche se il miglior episodio di tutti è dato da “Groovulture”, che funge da ottima sintesi delle influenze degli Hibagon, tra momenti fusion su basi desertiche, altri distorti e rumorosi e una conclusione leggera. Insomma: nonostante una prima parte incolore, “Polyposmic” sa intrattenere e farsi piacere dagli amanti della musica più astratta e strumentale, che rifugge i generi e che fa della anarchia sonora la propria ragion di vita. Se queste sono le coordinate sonore che vi interessano, “Polyposmic” dovrebbe rappresentare un buon acquisto.
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For those who are brand new to Hibagon… let’s just say it’s a hell of a weird party. Blending everything from psychedelic to bluesy metal, Hibagon’s debut record Polyposmic is a jammin’ math blast. The duo presents an entire instrumental work that displays unique chemistry that plays across a wide spectrum of sounds. For fans of acts such as Animals As Leaders, and who may enjoy a twang and attitude of something like the Melvins, Hibagon present a truly fun time. The album also follows a really spacey concept. Our main character Hibagon falls into a state of unconsciousness for 120 years, and awakens with the ability to mutate his surroundings. The tracks reflect these various forms of manipulated time and space, providing a range of emotion. “Groovulture” starts things off like a brisk walk, coming in with gentle guitar tones and light drumming. The rhythm kicks up at times and takes off like road rage, but will shift back to those slower elements. “HoolalooP” pops and vibrates with a psychedelic twang that is mesmerizing. The album then goes into “Hypnoyak”, which is bluesy rock and roll, blasting off with sporadic drumming. These three songs all play in sequence, and show off a wonderful range in sounds and technicality. There is always an element of that bluesy, rock and roll sound to the guitar, but thanks to the range in various song structures, the sound never tires. The drumming is also highly enjoyable, for it beats down and bops like a happy medium of rock and jazz. The instruments come together and create a mix of the unexpected, thanks to random shifts in style. “Lamantino” is an odd experiment in the best of ways when it comes to pacing. The song’s guitar plays and stops quickly in the beginning, providing a sense of jagged physicality to the music. The math component of the record is at some of its best in this track. The progression is a beast, as it combines many tones, sounds, and textures. “Neinthorag” churns in clashing drums with a sinister guitar tone. This lifts to allow some somber guitar notes with sharp drumming into the mix. Things shift back to the clashing and sinister aspect, playing back and forth on these ideas to the end. Polyposmic is a fun experience when it comes to math metal. In its run time the album offers quite a lot to hear. It’s math technicality isn’t overbearing or extreme, but makes for a great gateway to explore the genre even further. As a debut record, Hibagon have demonstrated a promising treat that is both very enjoyable, and continues to keep the listener guessing.
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CAN THIS EVEN BE CALLED MUSIC ?
Italian experimental progressive rock outfit Hibagọn just released their debut album, after two previous EPs in which they solidified their sound and personality. At forty minutes long, Polyposmic brings us a healthy dose of the mathematic prog duo. Focusing on fast-paced odd-time signatures, polyrhythms, and dissonant intervals, the creature by the name of Hibagọn is able to outdo its previous achievements. With the help of various effect pedals, guitarist Dowi is able to make us forget the fact that there is no bassist or complementary guitarist or keyboardist (except on ‘Orogenesis’ and ‘Zero’). Polyposmic is a fun time and a worthy challenge, all at once, and I didn’t expect any less from this cryptid. Do yourself a favour, and press play already!
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And I think we can agree that this image is something that can often cloud the music that you’re attempting to review. It’s maybe not something I’m completely understanding of, but I’m reviewing it and need to take a stance on it without preconceptions bothering me. Forming in 2011, Hibagon (taken from the Japanese equivalent of Bigfoot) are a two piece (guitar and drums) from Bergamo, Italy. They describe themselves as channelling “…the energy of the straightforward guitar + drums formula into irregular textures, bringing it back to the listener in geometric and distorted frames.” With previous EP’s being titled “Hibagon and the Quest for the Creature Previously Known as Moughra the Guardian”, it’s clear that there’s a certain element of humour in what they do. But will this help or hinder ‘Polyposmic’? ‘120’ is a minute long intro, where loops and guitar noise create the feeling of being sucked into a portal. Acting nicely as a contrast for the first proper song, ‘Anacrosaurus’ thus throws the listener off by beginning at a more relaxed tempo. After 30 seconds, it speeds up and goes into gnarly and intricate riffage. There’s bits of Mastodon and Swans in there, which make it an appealing combination. The guitar tone is warm and direct, while the drums have a satisfying wallop without overpowering. ‘Colugozer’ has a pounding, relentless drum riff reminiscent of Big Business and the Melvins. It’s a rocking number with some very intricate riffing, continued into the next song, ‘Hyphoyak.’ A lot of the songs follow the same pattern so, if you like what you read, then you know what to expect. Credit has to be given for the cover. Simple enough to work well on a t-shirt, and with enough detail to withstand the scrutiny of it being blown up to 12′ size. It works both as a piece of sci fi, and a piece of surrealism. This is a surprising, enjoyable and rocking album. What Hibagon have in their favour is that their songwriting manages to avoid the “wackiness” that can plague instrumental acts. If they had a singer, then there’s a chance they’d have a higher profile than they currently have. But, as it stands, Hibagon are a band to watch out for. Proof an open mind is always needed when reviewing.
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Mit Schlagzeug und Gitarre sind die beiden Italiener aus Bergamo in die Welt gezogen, um jeglicher Monotonie den Kampf anzusagen. Ihrer Affinität zur Polyrhythmik frönen sie bis zum Exzess – mathematisch gefärbter Noiserock, fingerbrecherisch und fulminant frickelig.
