Lotus
(Sci Fidelity)
Lotus's most anticipated album to date, Hammerstrike (their sixth), showcases the Philly band's ability to use straight-forward organic riffs that allow your mind to wander and body to groove. It's hard to place Hammerstrike in any genre because of the versatility of the band; at one point, it may seem as if George Clinton is directing them through the motions, while others leave the impression Franz Ferdinand made a guest appearance. With a dual-guitar assault and heavy drums and bass, Lotus has an extraordinary gift to reach places others can't by bringing a well-developed, constantly shifting sound to the audience.
To start the album off, Lotus presents in-your-face, funked-out songs like "Hammerstrike" and "Age of Inexperience" leaving a feeling of anxiety for what's coming next. "Bellwether" and "Modicum" will have you synching up with the band as they show off their electronic roots, building and re-building their composition up to a climatic conclusion. The tempo of the album slows down considerably as the album comes to a close with mellow, down to earth compositions "Turquoise" and "Disappear in a Blood-Red Sky". These tracks highlight Lotus's mix of distorted guitars and harmonic vocals, leaving a feeling of confidence and tranquility as the music fades out.
With a massive amount of support from fans and a new album to show off, who knows what will happen for this maturing group of young musicians.
Standout Tracks: "Modicum," "Hammerstrike" MATTHEW RECCHIA
