francis vs francis - red moon

Francis Vs Francis

Red Moon
self-released; 2013

3.7 out of 5

By Eva Cantillo

This full-fledged rocker who has jumped in and out of bands and collectives in the past, now finds himself creating the music he truly is passionate about. Ryan Obermeier aka Francis vs Francis is located out of Seattle, Washington and brings us some very contemporary yet classical hardcore punk rock. There are so many ways to describe the music that emulates from his latest album Red Moon; each song is instrumental yet they are all very dynamic and have an incredibly compelling appeal to them. It seems like epic metal yet toned down with subtle bass lines and effects. But then again, right when you feel it’s mellow, the songs jump out in your face and the bass lines and percussions start to rock and roll.

This is captured perfectly on the second track of the album titled “Now, Forever.” The song begins with a calm demeanor that is maintained by a repetition of a high-pitched synth. Then as the beat continues, the beat swells to a deeply dramatic tsunami of emotions; there is an intense layering of guitars and synths that just lets you fall deep into this swirling mess of structured rock.

A song with a real dark vibe is “Paper Prison.” It reminds me of songs that are produced by artists like Marilyn Manson and Muse. It has upbeat undertones yet upkeeps a general vibe of darkness and devilish curiosity. “Kaleidoscope Sky” is a song with a retrospective outlook. It begins simple and slow while cooking up a thick sauce of deep rock. The song trickles on and then dives into a waterfall of sultry contemplative melodies that seem to carry on for hours.

The album is a complete trip throughout. There is no second for a break or to “calm down.” There are mellow rock vibes within the collection of songs, but they all maintain an aura of hard rock soul, the steep electric guitar riffs and running drum sequences really leave you wanting to jump on a Harley and ride on. The album could improve on sound quality as each layer could receive more attention, which would make the songs’ quality higher and more appealing for the listener. The album is a great listen for those who like classic hardcore rock.

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