Solid foundation, solid groove
Australian pop rock band Finnoguns Wake just dropped their first EP Stay Young. Bandmates Shogun and Finn Berzin’s combined musical knowledge and collaborative skills are evident through their lush instrumentation and playful rhythms. Described on their Bandcamp page as “Decades apart in age but united in tutelage and outlook,” Stay Young weaves the two’s creativity and talents together to create an atmosphere that’s just as calming as it is emotive.
The EP opens with “Blue Skies,” which starts with upbeat drums and electric guitar. Soon after, bass guitar comes in to support these two elements and a faint wavy, organ-like synth is heard in the background. Eventually Shogun’s angsty yet composed voice enters the space. Although he sings “Everything is over / Everything is really over,” the rest of the song has an optimistic feel. The singer playing around with the rhythm of the word “over” adds even more interest to the song, and during the post-chorus the drum beats speed up as guitar blissfully continues on. The song concludes with the echo of Shogun’s vocals before static briefly takes over.
One quick tap of drum sticks kicks off the next song “So Nice.” Immediately following, crunchy guitar and drums play away until smooth and fun rhythms are sung by Berzin, whose voice shares qualities with 2-D’s vocals from Gorillaz. The drums and pace of the lyrics compliment each other nicely, adding another level of engagement for listeners. Along with this, the guitar has its moment to shine with higher-pitched riffs repeating throughout. When “So Nice” draws to a close, the guitar and vocals fade out together.
Berzin’s vocal stylings continue in “Lovers All.” Distorted guitars and wobbly synths serve as an introduction. Similar to the previous song, electric guitar often takes center stage with its higher tones and fast pace. The instrumentation becomes more so focused on tom drums as the guitar slows down ever so slightly at the halfway point. Right after, Berzin’s vocals start to feel more experimental as he decides to change up the rhythm. His voice is reverbed and, if listened to on headphones, travel from the right ear to the left. The fadeout has a touch of a psychedelic rock feel due to the stylistic distortions of several instruments.
The EP ends with “Strawberry Avalanche.” A prominent bass line shines all throughout and makes for nice contrast with the twinkling guitar. Gentle taps on a cymbal and quiet taps of the bass drum are the only percussive elements heard until a minute and a half into the track. Shogun’s incredibly controlled vocals return once more on this release and are occasionally accompanied by harmonizations, in particular on the lyrics “Why’d we have to fall in love?” There’s a splash of word painting here as well, specifically on the word “fall” with descending vocals. These small touches add to the track’s magical feel. The release wraps up with psychedelic, airy guitar and a few final strums of the bass.
Finnoguns Wake’s first ever release Stay Young hints towards a promising future for the band. The EP’s sophisticated rhythmic patterns and sonically softer yet influential aspects hold great promise. Shogun and Berzin’s musical execution in this track list lays a solid foundation for them to build off of as a band.
Leave a Comment