NEMOPHILA
"Seize the Fate"
(Masterworks Publishers; 2022)
Reviewed by Snidermann
From the first note of Nemophila's "Seize the Fate," I knew I was in the presence of musical brilliance. The band is all-female and what they do is rock fucking hard. This shit is real with an earsplitting presentation that is both interesting and slightly off center. I am still trying to figure out that last part and I think I will have a great time doing just that.
As I've admitted on these pages before, I do have this thing with female metal performers that's been with me since I first heard The Runaways back in the 70s and it's worked its way through Heart, L7, Pat Benatar, Kittie, Arch Enemy, Otep, Lacuna Coil and every other female rocker along the way.
Nemophila is right up there. There is so much going on in this recording, it must have been a producer's nightmare! Guitars, vocals, drums going every which way, most of them moving in different directions but still working. The presentation is thunderous and, frankly, I can't understand most of the words, but that does not make that much difference.
I can see myself at a Nemophila concert: head banging, dancing, drinking (a lot) and singing right along with the words. Be it English or Japanese, I would be singing right along. I may not be able to understand the lyrics, but fuck it, I like the music and it sound great.
This may be my favorite album of 2023 so far.
For more information, check out https://nemophila.tokyo.
Rating Guide:
A classic. This record will kick your ass.
Killer. Not a classic but it will rock your world.
So-so. You've heard better.
Pretty bad. Might make a nice coaster.
Self explanatory. Just the sight of the cover makes you wanna hurl.
Copyright © 2023 by R. Scott Bolton. All rights reserved.
