Review from Musicxtra (UK)

I thought Switch Opens from Stockholm, had a terrible name until I discovered that they were originally called FINGERSPITZENGEFÜHL. But what’s in a name eh?

Switch Opens' first eponymous release - although they recorded two albums with their unpronounceable name - is an impressively downbeat stomping affair combining extended musical workouts, as most songs are around the seven minute mark, with an accessible groove and a combo of clean and barked vocals.

Opener Express Death is driven along by a pounding Motorhead-esque bass riff and a catchy vocal line, and it’s instantly apparent that the band has been playing together for a while, as they change gears through various grooves, and through extended riffage workouts, let the music evolve.

Pyramids is a heavy brooding song, while He Dives Down has an amazing melodic instrumental break that comes unexpectedly from amid a slowburning grind of sludgy bass guitar.

Lucky Me, Lucky You is a stand out track, and is probably as close as they come to traditional rock norms, with a chugging main guitar strum, and some melodic breaks, but it is still leftfield sounding compared to the run-of-the-mill rock music around now!

The Electric Hour boasts some great drum patterns that remind me of Tool.

Musically they excel in atonal doomy rhythmic forms, and squeeze the most potential out of their riffs, by having them grind on for minutes at a time without vocal interference. There aren’t a lot of lead guitar breaks or flashy solo spots, but everyone mucks in to keep the bands engine ticking along nicely.

It’s not easy to classify which genre Switch Opens belong. They hark back almost to prog sensibilities in that they play extended arrangements of their riffs and throw in unexpected musical direction changes. But they also remind me of the sludgy days of grunge, with their bass heavy riffing and plodding pace, and even throw in a catchy vocal line or two, such as on Super Globe of Pain.

They aren’t particularly modern sounding, but they are still a breath of fresh air when compared to the repetitive formulaic dross around in music at the moment.

If you are looking for something a little different from the mainstream, then Switch Opens are a highly recommended alternative to the norm. As much as I dug this album, the long passages of bass-laden, doomy riffage that make up the bulk of their material may not be to some people’s tastes.

Stoners however need look no further!


by Steven Hargraves

Musicxtra