Polymoon – Chrysalis
Origin: Tampere / Finland
Release: 17.02.2023
Label: Robotor Records
Duration: 44:42
Genre: Psychedelic / Progressive Rock
I must confess that the first Polymoon Album on behalf Caterpillars Of Creation from 2020 completely passed me by. Just last year on the Desert Fest I mightn’t stop being amazed at what the five Finns were doing on stage.
Both the outward appearance of the band and the musical performance were unusual. Five androgynous-looking musicians in 1970s Blümchenkinder outfits set off a very unique firework display of psychedelic keyboards, progressive rhythms and intense guitars. Each musician showcased their instrument yet blended perfectly into the group. The performance was so lasting that I got the new record Chrysalis grabbed immediately.
After the first hearing I was floored. I’m not the one-listen-only type, but I was blown away by the potential and size. But that was reason enough to turn to the predecessor for comparison. Although Caterpillars Of Creation also succeeded, the current long player has much more width and a much broader spectrum. The debut album still had a dash of shoegazer in it that went on Chrysalis barely catches your ear.
Infinite expanses, unimaginable size
The beginning of the album is near perfect and flawless. Despite its progressive elements, it is catchy and always looks fresh with the tangible 1970s style. The opener Crown Of The Universe puts us in suspense for two minutes with calm tones. Then follows a musical explosion like a supernova. The song is rhythmically intoxicating and, like the cosmic event mentioned above, impresses with its size. If the opener sets the bar so high, what else tops it?
The following Wave Back To Confusion and Instar both get straight to the point and are flawlessly beautiful. The rhythm section, keyboard carpets and guitar work weave into one big flowing tapestry. Despite frequent changes in rhythm and an unobtrusive voice Kalle-Erik Kosonen the compositions appear balanced. The instrumentation is perfectly staged by the production. You can listen to an example Wave Back To Confusion HERE listen
The B-side of the album challenges the listener more. Set The Sun takes a long run-up and then a huge gulp from the psychedelic bottle. The singing adapts to the vibrating keyboard walls through electronic alienation. The guitars blur and condense the overall sound in their unity. The drum work is also brilliant Tuomas Heikurawhich sometimes has jazzy traits in its breadth.
Wacky and goose bumps feeling
Opened spacy and doomy A Day In The Air. A song between fast madness and heavy breaks. Sometimes the song moves as fast as shimmering light, then it falls into dark, riff-heavy heaviness. The last time I had such artistic greatness was when I first heard The Infernal Masquerade von Arcturus felt. Polymoon do not squint at expectations but realize their innermost being without limits.
The conclusion with Viper At The Gates Of Dawn turns out to be a bit harder and more demanding than the previous material. Guitars overlap, the vocals vary and the rhythm section seems to play heavy – and without limits. The guitar solo in the middle section is of epic magnitude and makes me want to listen to this part of the song over and over once more for the goosebumps it generates. Just as the album began, fades away Viper At The Gates Of Dawn in calming psychedelic effects.
The album leaves the impression that you mightn’t grasp all the ideas. The fullness that affected the spirit is simply too great and ingenious. All you have to do is listen to the album over and over once more to absorb all the details.
Chrysalis appears on Kadavars own label Robotor Records and of course belongs on vinyl, which is available in different colors and variants.
Conclusion
Polymoon have up Chrysalis freed from genre boundaries in favor of creativity and fill your sound cosmos with psychedelic and progressive elements. It works dizzyingly well, always sounds homogeneous and sounds exciting and is already a candidate for my top ten of the year. 9 / 10
Line Up
Tuomas Heikura – drums
Jesse Jaksola – guitar
Otto Kontio – guitar
Kalle-Erik Kosonen – Gesang, Synthesizer
Marco Menestrina – Bass
Tracklist
01. Crown Of The Universe
02. Wave Back To Confusion
03. Instar
04. Set The Sun
05. A Day In The Air
06. Viper At The Gates Of Dawn
Links
Facebook Polymoon
Instagram Polymoon
Polymoon website
Also on Soundmagnet.eu
Album Review – Desert Wave – Deafening Silence
Interview – Spiral Skies, asked Frida
Editorial recommendation – Mindcrawler – Stoner / Doom / Psychedelic from Germany
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