Indykush - 2023 - Everything Collapses

(43:59; M&O Music)

Track list:
1. Better Fate 4:43
2. Narcissistic 3:53
3. It's Insane 6:03
4. We Play! 4:55
5. Your Own Requiem 5:11
6. All Fucking Asses 3:42
7. Gringo 6:42
8. Everything Collapses 4:00
9. The End Is Tomorrow 4:50

Line-up:
Flib - vocals
John - guitars
Manu - guitars
Mo - bass
Mans - drums
with:
Fred Magnante - vocals
Seb Tacaille - vocals


French band Indykush have been a presence in the French music scene since 2003, and in the years they have been active they have released one EP and two full length albums in addition to being an active band in the live circuit. After many years as an independent band they are now signed to French label M&O Music, who recently released the band's third album "Everything Collapses".

Good, old metal is what we get on this production, and in this case with thrash metal as the foundation of the style explored and with a little bit of a hardcore touch seasoning the landscapes. Not to the extent of being crossover thrash, but as a bit of an ongoing vibe with raspy, aggressive dark toned vocals as the main provider of those impulses.

One of the key impressions I get from this band is that they have a very tight connection between the guitar riffs and the rhythms. While perhaps a bit of a moot point to focus on in metal, where that connection is tight to begin with, the impression I get is that this connection is a bit more tight than in your average band in this case. The frequent use of impact-oriented details rather emphasize this aspect of the band's repertoire, but this is also a feature elsewhere. The songs here will typically alternate between two or three slightly different modes of delivery, with hard and tight riff and rhythm cascades as well as circulating and fluctuating movements being the main additional ones besides the impact-oriented passages. We also get some occasional use of start and stop dynamics, some token use of majestic landscapes with a bit more of an epic feel to them as well as detours into more atmospheric laden territories. A brief flirt with doom metal also manages to crawl its way on to this album.

Otherwise I note that a specialty of the band is to use a dark and dirty guitar sound throughout, and that they have a more flowing and elegant guitar solo tone that is an efficient contrast to the underlying riffs. That the band will engage in some quirky and off kilter instrument movements on occasion adds a nice bit of tension and variety, and also adds a bit of an additional emphasis to the impression I get of the guitar riffs and rhythm department being a very tightly woven affair for this band.

In my view this is an album well worth lending an ear too if a tight, dark and dirty variety of thrash metal is seen as a generally interesting type of music, and if you treasure a little bit of a hardcore presence as well as subtle instrument intricacies in such landscapes you will probably find this to be quite the charming album to get familiar with. A solid production by a tight band that appears very well aware of what they want to achieve and how to go about it.

Olav M. Björnsen, March 2023

Links:
https://www.facebook.com/Indykushmetal
http://www.m-o-music.com/