RANDOM ACTS OF VIOLENCE
Fixation delivers a powerful, experimental and emotionally charged Mini album “Speak in Tongues”, Due out on October 11th
A quick turnaround after their successful debut album, the award-winning metalcore band Fixation is ready to release new music with Speak in Tongues – an abstract mini-album exploring themes of fitting in, individuality, and a raw power evoking from their music and the vocals. Across eight tracks, the band from Norway takes listeners on a musical journey where intriguing lyrics and a composite sound intertwine.
I must admit I was unfamiliar with this band but after just a few listens of Speak In Tongue I was taken aback by the innovative nature of their music, concentrating on complicated issues as well as an individual sound that inspired this review. The imposing melodic vocals the band is known for are now mixed with intense screaming –something that hadn’t been shown previously from vocalist Jonas Hansen.
“The album is about a person searching for meaning in a world that rejects them,” explains Hansen. “They find refuge in a cult, but quickly realizes it’s no better than the society they felt excluded from. They decide to create their own cult but loses touch with themself in the process.” Hansen adds that the band has long been fascinated by cult movements and their psychological power. (Taken from Indie Recordings website https://shop.indierecordings.no/)
After taking a listen to their debut album More Subtle Than Death from 2023. I think with Speak in Tongues, we hear a band that has refined its sound, more open to experimental vocal techniques and certain electronic and melodic elements that make it truly unique.
Now let’s get to the nitty gritty!
Grow a Flower – The lyrics are not subliminal it is someone who is looking for somewhere to belong. The manic nature of this intro is short but shockingly intense then suddenly it goes into the heavy and rambunctious Random Acts of Violence. The power of the vocals is something to behold, it goes from clean to heavy screaming seamlessly. The lyrics talk about loss of self and being hollow inside a lot of darkness and anger indeed which I think is relatable to everyone in one way or another which makes this song so good.
Random acts of violence also has electronic overtones used on the chorus emphasize the importance of its words which is innovative and shows evolutionary sound in the metalcore genre. It then comes to a sudden end and you float into Pick the Petals a mysterious short intermediatory its as if this is continuing the story from the perspective of the person being pulled into this cult. Very much like Grow the flower in sound, the concept of the album is being revealed in a creative way.
Blue Skies starts exactly how metalcore should be, heavy and guttural I really enjoy the way the vocals go from this to magnificent clean vocals and then adding electronic elements in there too, its unique. It continues in this manner a line a really love the line ‘redecorate the sorrow with rage.’ Then mid-song it changed tempo, slows itself down and really shows off Hansens vocal talents yet again as well it should. Then comes to a short sharp stop.
Tear it’s Thorns Off is a very distorted instrumental which is quite ominous as well, it is as if someone has left a message that you cannot quite pick out the words so you lean in closer to listen. It is something I think that will cause differences of opinion on meaning and what it means to the album, which is certainly an interesting concept.
Tyrannical Miracle for me is an epic standout song, lots of themes that can be taken from the lyrics. Fantastic drumbeats and guitar solos mixed with electronical beats adding to an already track. The track is a vibrant blend of synths, guitars, and convincing vocal performances, with further elements of stadium rock and metalcore. The drums near the end with raw screaming complete a masterful track. One that should be heard whatever type of rock you listen to it brings something new to rock as a genre.
Blood Still on the Grass – another instrumental piece mostly with elaborate synths taking you to a strange place. You can imagine the scenario in your mind as they say crescere in flora – we are in bloom, repeatedly the synths boom out giving you a boost of adrenaline. It reminded me of a film called Midsommar some of the scenes of that bounced around in my mind. I do wonder where it will take others,,,
Fever Dreaming – the final track is beautiful it is as if the listener has come to the end of the journey. The vocals are soft here, the music emotive and less dark until we kick into the lyrics where there is a foreboding feeling that perhaps the creation of their own cult has not given them the peace they really wanted. What is clear about this track you can take so much meaning from so many different lyrical themes. There is a break in the middle of the song with a speech which then turns from some more gradual heart wrenching lyrics of confusion and sadness. Some more heavy synths and heavy guitars kick in and the song whispers out.
1. {grow a flower} 01:15
2. Random Acts of Violence 04:06
3. {pick the petals} 00:49
4. Blue Skies 04:23
5. {tear it’s thorns off} 01:01
6. Tyrannical Miracle 03:23
7. {blood still on the grass} 01:57
8. Fever Dreaming 06:29
Impressive, groundbreaking and inventive Fixation have not only tried something different they have truly succeeded in creating something special here and whilst I was unfamiliar with this band, I will stay familiar in the future.
