Yobrepus: Mycelium Days

This review has us returning to Oslo, Norway and the band Yobrepus. They formed in 2006 but did not release their debut album Blakc Mould until 2017. They followed it up with their 2020 release titled Mycelium Days. In the band are:

Mats Jørgen Sivertsen (vocals, keys, guitars, loops)
Vegard Weyergang Vartdal (bass, backing vocals)
Paal Urdal (drums)
Leon Muraglia (guitars)

The music is definitely prog of a darker variety which is not surprising considering the band’s homeland. It is a very moody and riveting listen, lots of textural elements and sound dynamics morphing between softer moods and more robust heaviness although it never gets overly heavy. There are six tracks beginning with the massive twenty-two minute epic "Mycelium Days", certainly worth the price of admission. The beginning builds slowly with softer keyboards and beautiful layers of sound. At times I found myself completely transfixed with pink Floyd’s “Echoes� coming to mind. Eventually drums are added and fuzzy distorted guitar bringing on some excellent riffs of a doomy nature. Unlike some epics where the musicianship is on full display, this is more subtle and nuanced, a track that requires some deep listening to fully absorb. The guitar picking in “What If…� with its driving background keyboard and the acoustically driven “Down� are more highlight worthy selections.

Mycelium Days is a superb effort and I for one will be keeping a close eye on this band for hopefully years to come. Recommended.

An Apollon Records release.

Track listing:
1. Mycelium Days
2. What If…
3. Down
4. Step Up
5. Wangari
6. Piao

Added: May 20th 2021
Reviewer: Jon Neudorf
Score:
Related Link: Band's Official Site
Hits: 814
Language: english

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