Croatian-based rock trio Them Moose Rush establish a niche for simple, to-the-point rock cuts on Zepaxia. The band know their sound, and rarely ever sidestep it, likely for the betterment of the album. But, though Zepaxia often loses its frame, or sense of purpose, it still brings a plethora of tracks to the table that can be pulled out and enjoyed on their own.
Them Moose Rush find cohesion through sound rather than any thematic or lyrical aspects of the album. Many of the melodies and microphone effects, like on the standout track “Bliss,” have roots in 2000s-era rock. However, the soaring vocals on tracks like “Drndusa” and “Lapatopop” somehow feel extremely derivative, and a bit repetitive. Not to mention, a lot of the singing on Zepaxia gets drowned out in the mix, which is overall mixed high and devoid of much of a low-end.
Scattered about, however, are some potent hardrock cuts, like “T-Jay.” Their energy is intoxicating, and the reverberated guitars on the bridge are haunting. “Half Gello” is another great detour on the album – which has several tempo changes throughout that really bring intrigue to the vocals, which are layered and infectious.
Zepaxia struggles to create much cohesion. The lyrical quality of the album is not abundant or demanding. Rather, Zepaxia works better as an offering of tracks that execute similar song structures and straightforward rock arrangements.
Leave a Comment