| CD REVIEW Falcongate |
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Band: Falcongate Although I’m not quite completely certain, I dó believe Falcongate to be the first Hungarian act to be featured on the Lockjaw roster…let’s just say it’s the first one I know of since the label (or rather their promo agency) decided to put this website on their mailing list! Based in Guyla, Falcongate was formed in the year 2000 out of passion for Punk Rock in general, and changed their line-up according to the musical evolution they went through (documented on the band’s previous full-length outings, 2001’s Confesions Through Phone and 2004’s Blood Red Roses – what with the time between albums, you can imagine the change to be notable). When newest member Sosa Kodaj (second guitar, backing vocals) joined mainstays Adam (lead vocals) & Andras ‘Andrew’ Gyimesi (guitar, backing vocals & screams) and the rhythm section of Istvan Gai (bass) and Pete Szavai (drums), Falcongate chose for a dual guitar assault, and a return towards a Hardcore driven sound…at the same time hightening their sensibility to write catchy pop tunes. Well, actually it’s because they were seaking to give their sound that dual guitar sound that they recruited the man, see? And he immediately made himself quite useful, helping the lead singer with the writing of the lyrics! Although Adam’s vocals are clean for the most part, and is being backed quite harmoniously/ complementary by his brother and the other guitarist (their mode of vocal intercourse either clean or of a screamed type depending on the necessities of the song), you can hardly categorise ‘em as “Emo”. In stead, they’re a nice addition to the relative complexity of the music. Don’t get me wrong though: although the guys are definitely going for a style which is at least somewhat challenging in that (relative) complexity, they definitively have also succeeded in bringing enough melodies into the whole to ensure that overall Poppy feeling, and an affinity towards a rather broad audience! Here and there, some programming was added to the whole, like on the drums of the album’s opener “Where’s The Beat”’s intro (or is that a drum machine?), and the use of vocoder on some of the lead singer’s parts (very end of “Dig Out My Grave”, and most prominently – because throughout the song – during album closer “Credits”…where he doesn’t even get backings). Check out what’s available either on the band’s website (falcongate.com) or at myspace.com/falcongate Over in Hungary, the album was already released in late 2008 (the deal with Lockjaw coming only during April of last), and you can imagine the band has already done several shows in Hungary in promotion of their album, shows among which can be counted appearances a headlining at the renowned Hungarian Sziget and Wanted festivals as well as Austria’s Mosh Pit Festival, as well as support slots for The Idoru (a band which they’ve toured with in the past, others being Moronique and Alvin és a Mórkusok) and Millencolin. Additionally, the guys already made videos for the album opening and closing tracks (in that order, the latter made during January of this year – and both, alongside two videos for earlier material, can be viewed at the band’s website). To add to their many dates already set for the Summer, the guys are planning a Far east tour, as well as a visit to the UK. European lovers of Poppy Hardcore infused Punk Rock can only hope the band may find it in their heart to grace some of the stages in their neighborhood on the way back home. Say…if enough of you let ‘em know (either directly or via their label) in advance that a Falcongate visit would be appreciated, maybe something could be arranged, you know!? 88/100 Tony. |