by Alexandra Mrozowska
– Sr. Columnist —
It’s hard not to notice the two contradictive tendencies that seem to dominate the contemporary music industry. Guessing by what the music press headlines scream these days, one would have to use the past rather than the present tense to discuss the mere existence of the music business. More and more observers, particularly those who witnessed the creation and distribution of music in the ‘60s or the ‘70s, share their grim prophecies about music being actually “dead” and a relic of the past. But just as if trying to prove them wrong, more and more young bands offer their share of the apparently forgotten craft via YouTube uploads, Facebook pages and (over)filtered Instagram posts. One of such is the Polish four-piece Atom Heart, ready to introduce themselves to the worldwide audience with their first, independently released EP Into The Light.
There is one certain thing about the band that their debut EP immediately unveils – they struggle to find their own style and steer their ship possibly far from any direct imitation. Although the craft of playing Blues-tinted Hard Rock is hardly a novelty these days, Atom Heart – differently from vast majority of their peers – are not your ordinary copycats. From the rough howlround of the first track to the album’s dynamic finale, you can find tints and tinges of many different genres here. “Look At Sky” and “Walking Stick” strike first with a catchy, but rough groove which draws as heavily from the 1960s and 1970s Hard Rock as it does from the contemporary sound labeled ‘alternative.’ Guitar soloing is rich throughout both tracks, clearly indicating the lead guitar being the driving force behind the band’s sound. With the third song on the EP – “Sofia” – the band moves even closer towards bluesy aesthetics. The slide guitar-embroidered tune is Atom Heart at their best, skillfully blending the classic Americana sound with their modern, gritty groove. And speaking of the groove-driven songs, “Moments Of Weakness” comes next, closed with a luscious guitar solo. “Desire” is mostly raw riffs and tight rhythm section, the choruses nevertheless having a tinge of radio-friendliness to them. “Bad Things” is the sixth and the final song on Into The Light and it closes the mini-album on a high and energetically charged note, its roughness having almost punk-ish quality to it.
With their lengthy debut EP, Atom Heart has used the first opportunity to show themselves as a cohesive and stylistically convincing unit to the utmost. Into The Light combines the reliable musicianship with freshness and energy, drawing heavily from multitude of styles but remaining uncontrived. Although it’s hard to predict now what the future holds for the Warsaw-based group, they’re certainly worth of being kept on your radar.
Genre: Hard Rock, Blues Rock
Band:
Daniel Brühl – vocals
Kamil Wysocki – guitars
Tomasz Koziel – bass guitar
Ilja Majewski – drums
Tracklist:
1. Look At Sky
2. Walking Stick
3. Sofia
4. Moments of Weakness
5. Desire
6. Bad Things
Label: Independent
Website: https://www.facebook.com/atomheartofficial
Hardrock Haven rating: 8/10
