The Quartet Of Woah – ‘The Quartet Of Woah’.
The Quartet Of Woah – Lisbon, Portugal.
To Lisbon now for an audio trip a long time in the making. We have been meaning to sit down with the latest release from The Quartet Of Woah for a little while and with the festive season over and work calming down, now it seems is the perfect time. The band have been in the Progressive Rock game for quite some time now and with this latest self-titled effort showing nothing but their clear experience.
Moments into the playful and melodic but yet also droning Stoner Rock of ‘As In Life’, you are hooked. Quite naturally you would expect the opening of this record to drag on, build slowly or maybe even not at all as is per with much music in this vein. However, I can assure you that as the band take an inward look at life in this track, it is nothing but enthralling. Even during the middle gap where the band transcend from bouncing groove to a slow bass rumble and existentialism and then to Queen-esque harmonies set to further droning ebbing bass-lines, your interest is not lost.
‘Forth By Light’ is the second in the poetic order of the releases’ track list. Set to a more ominous tone the track takes its time in a slow Stoner Rock toned build dusted with lighter melodies. By the time the band’s contrasting vocals come into play, influence from Queen is notable once more as is the band’s need to balance melody with a darker-Rock sound. ‘Forth By Light’ contrasts its predecessor strongly but well as it follows the darker path laid out by ‘As In Life’ and its middle part.
After the haunting rumble of ‘Forth By Light’ an unexpected piano and vocal intro continues the haunting sound in a more approachable way alongside guitars toned towards a more Classic Rock approach. This is a band of clear and diverse influences and it shows, after all, this is Prog-Rock.
Strong Blues-infused vocals croon impressively as the band lean once more to their more melodic side and dare a I say more mainstream sound. ‘A Flock Of Leaves’ gains weight, tempo and technical ability, the melodies become warped, the drums quicken with a welcome charge and sharp time changes almost completely alter the track by the 8:00 mark where only the essential hints are left behind to varying levels. The track then changes again after it subsides in distant keys and further eerie vocal harmonies sat somewhere not far off but not in direct ear shot. Following this another piano-vocal ballad takes charge before falling into a slow heavy-Rock rumble playing you out.
Closing you have ‘Days Of Wrath’ which is an unexpected slice of 90’s Alternative Rock laid with playful Blues-Rock groove and melodic vocals at least up until just over the four-minute mark where the band’s pangs for a heavier strings suddenly infect the melodic sound. After another drawn-out vocal dominated interlude the band infuse their Stoner-sound with elements of both Punk and straight-up Rock n’Roll and its nothing but gyration inducing.
The Quartet Of Woah is very well summed-up with the casual word – ‘woah’. Get it.
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