Review Summary: Hm, a pleasant yet unremarka- HEY, WAIT A MINUTE.
At first glance, Sufosia's latest offering appears as your run-of-the-mill melodic/heavy metal effort. The first few tracks suggest an enjoyable yet unremarkable journey, a pleasant but forgettable stroll through familiar musical landscapes. Around the fifth track, however, something changes, as if hitherto unnoticed seeds buried in the sonic soil begin to sprout, and the album takes an unexpected turn. From "Gallery" onwards, it starts to cast a spell, drawing the listener into an enigmatic embrace and prompting him to retrace his steps. The streak of tracks from 6 to 8 is certainly where
Connection Failed serves up some of its finest dishes: it’s a segment that showcases many of the album's standout features, and it's this auditory trifecta that also gives the whole its power to hook.
While there’s harmonious vocal lines that are as beguiling as they are infectious – check “Delusions” and “Diamonds” –, one of the album's more intriguing aspects is the pervasive use of ‘stacked 5th’ or 5/9 chords, as showcased by gateway track “Gallery”. Though this may balance on the brink of overindulgence at times, stacked fifths are a source of endless fascination to my ears, as their very nature makes them straddle the line between major and minor and thus defy easy categorization. Perhaps this mirrors, and contributes to, the album’s overall enigmatic quality. Here, as well as in the vocal lines and in the artful alternation between minor and major scales within the choruses, Extol may well have whispered its influence into Sufosia's ears. There's a hint of Mitch Harris’ solo projects (Menace, Brave the Cold) as well, and a dash of fusion metal akin to Alarum and Exivious to keep the sonic palette fresh and unpredictable. Equally noteworthy is the use of 5-1-5 chords (or ‘fourth chords’, if you will) that went a considerable way in making me believe the guitars were tuned to the depths of D standard or lower when, in fact, everything remains steadfastly in standard E. This effective sleight of hand adds a layer of distinct heaviness to the album's sonic makeup.
For those familiar with Sufosia’s musical history, perhaps the most striking aspect of this album is its departure from their previous work. Known for their straightforward, old school thrash approach, the band now embraces more melodic and progressive elements with hints of fusion. Cooked up and released mid-Covid in 2020-21,
Connection Failed is thus a testament to both resilience and a willingness to explore new musical territories. In tracks like "Rainbows," we even catch glimpses of melancholic new wave and dark pop influences, reminiscent of The Police's more introspective moments. In fact, what sets the album apart overall is its unabashed poppiness. Sufosia deftly arrange and write metal in a way that ranges from directly listenable to downright infectious. The riffs, chord progressions and fusion-friendly solos, while relatively simple, exhibit a level of subtlety and finesse that elevates them above the mundane.
In a genre often characterized by technical complexity, it's refreshing to see Sufosia prioritize subtlety and feel. While some will appreciate this newfound melodic catchiness, though, others might find it veers into borderline cheese. But, as in a gourmet meal, whether the cheese is tasteful depends on your appetite and mood. My present vibe is I’m hungry for more. Amidst the poppiness, the songs and melodies to my ears remain rooted in a solid base of thrash, never straying too far from the genre's core. It's a delicate balancing act that
Connection Failed manages with finesse, and within a very digestible time span of just under 37 minutes.
