Sammary: Monochrome

The person that just about gives this band/project their name is one Sammy Wahlandt, with Sammary being mainly the work of this multi-instrumentalist alongside three singers, Stella Inderwiesen, Marie Stenger and Larissa Pipertzis. Billed as an art rock/indie endeavour, it has to be said that this angst ridden outburst is something of a departure for the Progressive Promotions label and, truth be told, not one I’ve readily connected with.

Pulling from influences that range from those ‘prog-not prog’ bands like Radiohead and Keane, and infusing the results with everything from a more symphonic metal grandeur to an indie rock know it all sneer, this is as far from the expected ‘prog’ that I’ve heard from ProgProm. That in itself is a really good move, the broadening of a label’s outlook always something to be applauded, but personally I’m just not excited by these particular results.

The stars here are the three ladies handling the vocals, with the trio on point throughout, whether that be via full force workouts that would rival Within Temptation in scope or much more contained pieces that use electronics as their foundations and build onwards. However, for me the songs simply aren’t there and no amount of excellent vocal embellishing, or indeed a smart production and mix, will negate that by the time this album is hitting the halfway point. Interest steadily slipping away from the oh so earnest “A Kiss Without Meaning�, or overbearing 80s pop of “Sweet Affliction�.

There is also an underlying concept on the album as Sammary seek to answer the question, what defines the human being? But in truth, with the likes of “Open� and “220� trying the patience through their unexciting nature, I’m not really inclined to find out their conclusions. Monochrome is, for me, perfectly named, with a variety of attacks somehow all leading to the same conclusions.

Track Listing
1. Black And White 

2. Soft 

3. 218 

4. A Kiss Without A Meaning

5. 219 

6. Sweet Application 

7. Open 

8. 220 

9. Killing Another Person

10. Monochrome

11. Epilogue

Added: June 15th 2022
Reviewer: Steven Reid
Score:
Related Link: Sammary on bandcamp
Hits: 451
Language: english

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