Rating: 9/10
'Switch Opens' is the self-titled debut album of the newly branded Swedish band Fingerspitzengefühl, apparently releasing two albums under this previous moniker before changing names to the less phonetically challenging Switch Opens. As I sit there wondering if the name was lifted from the Soundgarden song bearing this title, second track 'Pyramids' kicks in with its dirty bass-heavy guitar driven sounds and grunge vibe, so I guess the influence extends beyond just the band's new name. However, this is only a minor part of Switch Opens' music. Opening song 'Express Death' is a much more up tempo affair that skilfully fuses groove metal with elements of punk aggression, psychedelia, and downright dirty fucked up mosh 'n' roll...okay that's the first 4 minutes, then the remainder of the song's seven minute playing time is occupied by musical dissonance and progressive time signatures. Bassist/vocalist Jesper Skarin delivers each lyric with sheer passion in a range of styles as disparate as the music - Devin Townsend style growling ('Paper Walls'), crust punk barks ('Lucky Me, Lucky You'), and a very amenable clean voice ('Super Globe of Pain'). The press release accompanying this promo states that "every song has its own, clear identity" and I certainly wouldn't disagree, although the series of compositions on offer, which vary between dirty, punk-edged metal, grunge, psychedelic stoner, and heavy prog-rock, are bound together by an absorbing finesse that is all too often lacking in other works that strive for so much diversity. Overloaded with original, heavy, catchy riffs that draw you into its infectious essence, 'Switch Opens' is an unpredictable ride from start to finish with twists and turns that will leave you breathless and wanting to hit the play button again straight after the album's finished. I've never particularly been a fan of labelling music (after all, there are just two genres, right?....music you like and music you don't), and I pity the poor journalists who do feel the perpetual need to classify everything they hear. This one will fuck 'em up good and proper! Take a look at the cover art - this is precisely what your brain will feel like upon digesting Switch Opens' music. Astonishing stuff. Go stimulate you mind right now.
- Mark Holmes
Metal Discovery
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Monday, October 12, 2009
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Review from Fileunder.nl (Holland)
In de auto heb ik meestal m'n iPod op de shufflefunctie staan. De rauwe vocalen die me daarbij zo nu en dan tegemoet kwamen maakten me erg nieuwsgierig. Afgezien van Brian Johnson en Lemmy heb ik er daar niet zoveel van, maar deze rauwe vocalen - hoe beperkt ook - bevielen me goed. Na een paar keer wist ik dat dat Switch Opens was. Nu de hamvraag: zou ik het een album lang leuk blijven vinden? Het antwoord is een volmondig ja. Dit is hun derde album, zij het het eerste onder de naam Switch Opens. De vorige twee verschenen onder de commercieel hopeloze bandnaam Fingerspitzengefühl. Het gevoel voor commercie is er met de wijziging echter nog steeds niet, getuige de onbegrijpelijke en onbegrijpelijk lelijke hoes. Muzikaal is het echter lekker wat deze Zweden laten horen. Een mengeling van metal, punk, psychedelica, een enkele keer afgewisseld met een stukje progmetal, en dat alles in een soort doomverpakking. Subtiel is het zelden, het tempo ligt redelijk hoog en de acht songs zijn toch niet kort te noemen. Niettemin kreeg ik nergens het gevoel dat het nu wel eens afgelopen mocht zijn. Integendeel, de power en energie, de bas die de songs voortdrijft, de loodzware riffs in drop d-stemming die er overheen beuken, die stem van Jesper Skarin, het blijft steeds weer lekker. En dus blijf ik Switch Opens opzetten. En nog eens. En nog eens...
fileunder.nl
fileunder.nl
Review from EstMetal (Estonia)
Rating: 6,5/10
Switch Opens on 2000 aastal loodud kogenud muusikute punt Rootsist, Stockholmist, kuid esimest korda kuulsin neist alles sel aastal. Ja pole ka imestada, sest alles nüüd, sügisel on aeg küps, et bänd väljastaks oma esimese kauamängiva. Algselt meie jaoks ülikeerulise nime Fingerspitzengefühl all formeerud ansamblis on liikmetel nii doomi, deathi kui thrash metali tausta ja kogemusi (Rise And Shine, Moaning Wind, Dawn Of Decay jne). Eks seda on kuulda ka äsjailmunud omanimelisel debüütalbumil.
Switch Opens sisaldab endas kaheksat lugu, millede kogupikkuseks 51 minuti jagu vanakooli metalit ja rocki. Kuigi suurim rõhk on praegu populaarsuse laineharjal surfaval stoneril ja sludge metalil, toob bänd jõuliselt sisse mitmeid erinevaid nüansse. Hullutakse psühhedeelia piirimail, kangutatakse aeglast proto-doomi (Pyramids), poetatakse pilk proge-rocki seeliku alla ning küntakse koguni ironmaidenlikku heavy-põldu (Lucky Me, Lucky You). Album on vägagi mitmekesine, kus pea iga lugu omaette ooperist, samas on aga suudetud kõik omavahel seosesse ning ühtseks tervikuks seada. Suurim asi, mis mind häirib on aga vokaal, mille tämber samastub kõigi musttuhande kivimetalbändiga, mis üle kogu maailma laineid löövad. Vaid kohtades, kus kasutatakse madalamat häält, pääseb see kohe maksvusele ning parandab kogu loo kõla märgatavalt (Terra Incognita).
Kuigi tervikuna pole Switch Opens sugugi minu suurimate lemmikute seas, leidsin enda jaoks päris mitu väga head träkki ning üldmulje ei ole halb. Kahtlemata üks paremaid stoner-albumeid, mida ma kuulanud olen. Kindlasti leiaksid ka vanakooli doomi austajad siit nii mõndagi üllatavat, samuti võiksid igasuguse seitsmekümnendate raskerocki fanaatikud seda kuulata.
EstMetal
Switch Opens on 2000 aastal loodud kogenud muusikute punt Rootsist, Stockholmist, kuid esimest korda kuulsin neist alles sel aastal. Ja pole ka imestada, sest alles nüüd, sügisel on aeg küps, et bänd väljastaks oma esimese kauamängiva. Algselt meie jaoks ülikeerulise nime Fingerspitzengefühl all formeerud ansamblis on liikmetel nii doomi, deathi kui thrash metali tausta ja kogemusi (Rise And Shine, Moaning Wind, Dawn Of Decay jne). Eks seda on kuulda ka äsjailmunud omanimelisel debüütalbumil.
Switch Opens sisaldab endas kaheksat lugu, millede kogupikkuseks 51 minuti jagu vanakooli metalit ja rocki. Kuigi suurim rõhk on praegu populaarsuse laineharjal surfaval stoneril ja sludge metalil, toob bänd jõuliselt sisse mitmeid erinevaid nüansse. Hullutakse psühhedeelia piirimail, kangutatakse aeglast proto-doomi (Pyramids), poetatakse pilk proge-rocki seeliku alla ning küntakse koguni ironmaidenlikku heavy-põldu (Lucky Me, Lucky You). Album on vägagi mitmekesine, kus pea iga lugu omaette ooperist, samas on aga suudetud kõik omavahel seosesse ning ühtseks tervikuks seada. Suurim asi, mis mind häirib on aga vokaal, mille tämber samastub kõigi musttuhande kivimetalbändiga, mis üle kogu maailma laineid löövad. Vaid kohtades, kus kasutatakse madalamat häält, pääseb see kohe maksvusele ning parandab kogu loo kõla märgatavalt (Terra Incognita).
Kuigi tervikuna pole Switch Opens sugugi minu suurimate lemmikute seas, leidsin enda jaoks päris mitu väga head träkki ning üldmulje ei ole halb. Kahtlemata üks paremaid stoner-albumeid, mida ma kuulanud olen. Kindlasti leiaksid ka vanakooli doomi austajad siit nii mõndagi üllatavat, samuti võiksid igasuguse seitsmekümnendate raskerocki fanaatikud seda kuulata.
EstMetal
Saturday, October 10, 2009
Review from Lords of Metal (Holland)
Rating 95/100
Jan-Simon: Normally I read press releases that accompany new CD’s with a bit of distrust. Of course this is a wonderful album with fantastic songs played by accomplished and inspired musicians who have worked with the best of the best, recorded by a top producer, etcetera, etcetera. It is logical, if I had to do the PR for a band I would not write that this might be a nice record to perhaps play once as musical wallpaper either…
So when I read the info that was delivered with the debut-CD (well, sort of, more about this later) by Switch Opens my first thoughts were: yeah, sure. But I must admit, every word was true this time. I quote: “Switch Opens songs range from psychedelic doom to raw punk energy, all on a solid foundation of heavy progressive rock. Every song has its own, clear identity, brim filled with original hooks, yet with a patented bass heavy, warm, vibrating sound running through the record.” Perhaps you can gripe about the style, I can only confirm its contents. Switch Opens have made an bum with a few unique characteristics: as soon as you start it, you are sucked into a maelstrom of riffs and hooks and you can do nothing but turn up the volume. This is music to experience, full blast. My girlfriend is not such a fan of Switch Opens for that matter. For some reason she does not like the sound of happily marching crockery in the cupboard…
The Swedes of Switch Opens are no newcomers, although you might think so by the idea of a debut. They started out as Fingerspitzengefühl and by that name they released two albums, before they finally realized in 2008 that their name was not really helpful while pursuing an international career. So they chose Switch Opens, and were promptly asked to support Neurosis during their latest Scandinavian tour. You can say what you like about Neurosis (they are great, or they bring an unimaginative Ravensburger-painting by numbers sort of music because of their template-like way of working), they do know how to find talent.
The eponymous CD that has been released now holds eight long tracks. Sometimes such long tracks make you tired. After five minutes you start checking your watch. How much longer? It is not the case for Switch Opens, somewhere halfway ‘Pyramids’, the second song on the CD, you notice that you lost count of all the riffs you have heard in the past ten minutes, not to mention all the breaks and timechanges or the actual drumsolo you find yourself in the midst of. And the beautiful ting is, it may be a lot, it is all fitting, no overkill. Later on, in ‘He Dives Down’ we even hear vague oriental melodies and although it sounds fine, after the overwhelming start of the album it is the first moment the CD slumps a bit. It only shows Switch Opens is human too, the level of perfection shown in the earlier parts made me doubt. They continue with songs that sound like a punked up version of Motörhead and organically change in an even more proggy Mastodon, including mellotrons. All with the characteristic downtuned guitars and bass sound.
So here we have another discovery from Sweden, the country that has so much more to offer than Pippi Longstockings and Abba. Listen to this CD!
Lords of Metal
Jan-Simon: Normally I read press releases that accompany new CD’s with a bit of distrust. Of course this is a wonderful album with fantastic songs played by accomplished and inspired musicians who have worked with the best of the best, recorded by a top producer, etcetera, etcetera. It is logical, if I had to do the PR for a band I would not write that this might be a nice record to perhaps play once as musical wallpaper either…
So when I read the info that was delivered with the debut-CD (well, sort of, more about this later) by Switch Opens my first thoughts were: yeah, sure. But I must admit, every word was true this time. I quote: “Switch Opens songs range from psychedelic doom to raw punk energy, all on a solid foundation of heavy progressive rock. Every song has its own, clear identity, brim filled with original hooks, yet with a patented bass heavy, warm, vibrating sound running through the record.” Perhaps you can gripe about the style, I can only confirm its contents. Switch Opens have made an bum with a few unique characteristics: as soon as you start it, you are sucked into a maelstrom of riffs and hooks and you can do nothing but turn up the volume. This is music to experience, full blast. My girlfriend is not such a fan of Switch Opens for that matter. For some reason she does not like the sound of happily marching crockery in the cupboard…
The Swedes of Switch Opens are no newcomers, although you might think so by the idea of a debut. They started out as Fingerspitzengefühl and by that name they released two albums, before they finally realized in 2008 that their name was not really helpful while pursuing an international career. So they chose Switch Opens, and were promptly asked to support Neurosis during their latest Scandinavian tour. You can say what you like about Neurosis (they are great, or they bring an unimaginative Ravensburger-painting by numbers sort of music because of their template-like way of working), they do know how to find talent.
The eponymous CD that has been released now holds eight long tracks. Sometimes such long tracks make you tired. After five minutes you start checking your watch. How much longer? It is not the case for Switch Opens, somewhere halfway ‘Pyramids’, the second song on the CD, you notice that you lost count of all the riffs you have heard in the past ten minutes, not to mention all the breaks and timechanges or the actual drumsolo you find yourself in the midst of. And the beautiful ting is, it may be a lot, it is all fitting, no overkill. Later on, in ‘He Dives Down’ we even hear vague oriental melodies and although it sounds fine, after the overwhelming start of the album it is the first moment the CD slumps a bit. It only shows Switch Opens is human too, the level of perfection shown in the earlier parts made me doubt. They continue with songs that sound like a punked up version of Motörhead and organically change in an even more proggy Mastodon, including mellotrons. All with the characteristic downtuned guitars and bass sound.
So here we have another discovery from Sweden, the country that has so much more to offer than Pippi Longstockings and Abba. Listen to this CD!
Lords of Metal
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Review from MTUK Metal 'Zine
It’s always nice to get an album that challenges you to come up with a couple of others that it sounds like… even when it sounds vaguely familiar you have a hard time placing some of the individual elements without first having a quick scan at your overflowing CD collection to jog your memory. Switch Opens from Sweden have just put me in that pleasant but frustrating situation.
Starting out life as Fingerspitzengefühl, the band has seemingly had an identity crisis from day one, releasing two albums under that moniker and their third as Switch Opens… that’s what listening to psychedelic rock does to you apparently - or so the ghost of Frank Zappa tells me. But all in all there is a fair bit of continuity in the sound despite the Switch in band names - the strong metal influences remain at the forefront but these new songs add a playful and frisky edge to the proceedings with definite nods to Fugazi, the aforementioned Mr Zappa, Mastodon, and even Soundgarden and The Deftones throughout.
‘Express Death’ opens the album with and adrenalin fuelled Motorhead style bass line that against the odds manages to last the distance considering the seven minute run time of the track. ‘Pyramids’ has an air of Mastodon about it with its thundering bass and half-hissed/half-growled vocals - very gritty and begging to be played at full volume. Next up is ‘Paper Walls’ follows suit from its predecessor but sacrifices the bass for a more experimental feel. ‘He Dives Down’ is heavy, hair swaying, psychedelic Down style metal the way it should be - strong riff, great bass and a big chorus - probably the song that makes this album. ‘Terra Incognita’ is a swampy track that follows on from ‘He Dives Down’ perfectly, but it takes over three minutes to get to the first verse… it’s a good track but really drags at nine minutes in length. ‘Lucky Me, Lucky you’ by comparison to some of the tracks here is a pop song - it’s got a straight up raw punk feel to it that is really refreshing after so many big complex tracks. ‘Super Globe of Pain’ is that delta blues doom again but after the initial intro it begins to feel less solid than other tracks of this ilk on the album - though it doesn’t fall apart, it does feel shaky in places. Finally ‘Electric Hour’ slivers like a snake out of the bayou to close the album with a barrage of guitar fuzz and semi-tribal drumming.
Overall this is a damn good album with plenty of different influences and tricks at play on the songs. Sometimes it can drag or feel a little put together, but when it has such a strong psychedelic sludgy feel to it, you can easily forgive and get lost in the riffs without much prompting.
Sean M. Palfrey
Metalteamuk.net
Starting out life as Fingerspitzengefühl, the band has seemingly had an identity crisis from day one, releasing two albums under that moniker and their third as Switch Opens… that’s what listening to psychedelic rock does to you apparently - or so the ghost of Frank Zappa tells me. But all in all there is a fair bit of continuity in the sound despite the Switch in band names - the strong metal influences remain at the forefront but these new songs add a playful and frisky edge to the proceedings with definite nods to Fugazi, the aforementioned Mr Zappa, Mastodon, and even Soundgarden and The Deftones throughout.
‘Express Death’ opens the album with and adrenalin fuelled Motorhead style bass line that against the odds manages to last the distance considering the seven minute run time of the track. ‘Pyramids’ has an air of Mastodon about it with its thundering bass and half-hissed/half-growled vocals - very gritty and begging to be played at full volume. Next up is ‘Paper Walls’ follows suit from its predecessor but sacrifices the bass for a more experimental feel. ‘He Dives Down’ is heavy, hair swaying, psychedelic Down style metal the way it should be - strong riff, great bass and a big chorus - probably the song that makes this album. ‘Terra Incognita’ is a swampy track that follows on from ‘He Dives Down’ perfectly, but it takes over three minutes to get to the first verse… it’s a good track but really drags at nine minutes in length. ‘Lucky Me, Lucky you’ by comparison to some of the tracks here is a pop song - it’s got a straight up raw punk feel to it that is really refreshing after so many big complex tracks. ‘Super Globe of Pain’ is that delta blues doom again but after the initial intro it begins to feel less solid than other tracks of this ilk on the album - though it doesn’t fall apart, it does feel shaky in places. Finally ‘Electric Hour’ slivers like a snake out of the bayou to close the album with a barrage of guitar fuzz and semi-tribal drumming.
Overall this is a damn good album with plenty of different influences and tricks at play on the songs. Sometimes it can drag or feel a little put together, but when it has such a strong psychedelic sludgy feel to it, you can easily forgive and get lost in the riffs without much prompting.
Sean M. Palfrey
Metalteamuk.net
Sunday, September 27, 2009
8/10 Sweden Rock Magazine #65
The album got 8 out of 10 in the new issue of Sweden Rock Magazine. There's also an interview with Micke next to the review.
8/10
Många band gör musik som ska låta på ett visst sätt. Switch Opens musik låter på sitt sätt, och det höjer dem över mängden.
Trummisen dyrkar The Police. Ena gitarristen har Van Halen som husgudar, medan den andre tillbringar huvuddelen av dagen inne i sitt huvud tillsammans med Hawkwind. Sångaren och basisten, Jesper Skarin, hyllar Megadeth och spelar trummor med technosnubben i The Field. Ni hör ju själva. Detta är helt jävla sjukt! I stället för musik: förvirring? Nej, inte alls.
Efter att tidigare ha hetat Fingerspitzengefühl och släppt två rejält spretiga men svinbra album har bandet äntligen hittat hem. Det schizofrena uttrycket har kokats ned till vad de gör bäst: de vänder ut och in på tyngden. Ändå är detta deras mest varierade album. Det händer saker hela tiden. Udda trumkomp, fantastiska sånginsatser, psykedeliska gitarrsjok och basfetma som berör både fysiskt och psykiskt – dessa fyra hjältar torde kunna rädda världen!
Produktionen är både taggigt trasig och mjuk som ett duntäcke. Bergsmassiv och genomskinlig. Man fattar inte riktigt hur det har gått till, men de har som sagt hittat hem.
Årets tripp? Fuglesangs fjuttiga rymdresa är en spottloska i havet.
- Mattias Indy Pettersson
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