FAMILY – Future History
- Posted on 31-08-2016
Brooklyn, NY is home to the experimental progressive metal band Family – and their new album "Future History" is a 12 track odyssey into everything from southern and stoner rock to alternative nuances amidst the odd-time signatures, tempo changes, and thunderous mood riff dynamics. One minute a song goes on a Rush juxtaposition, and the next Mastadon meets Tool appears in the mix – and this all occurs right out of the gate on the 7:13 "The Dark Inside". Vocals can range from comforting to chilling – from cleans to screams they cover the spectrum.
The short interludes provide brief respite before the next full-force musical assault hits your eardrums – guitars churning about against a pulsating bass and free-flowing drum mechanics. The subtle guitar/bass shuffle against funky drumming for "The Trial" opens up a world of jam-oriented possibilities for the quartet, and they go full tilt on this number – the blood curdling screams often matching up rhythmically against the musical syncopation. By the time the almost eight-minute closer "Bone on Bone" rings out its final semi-tribal drum parts, you feel inclined to start right back over again – a great sign of the hypnotic quality to Family’s style.
My first exposure to the band, and it makes me want to investigate more. The boundaries for the genre are open far and wide, and "Future History" provides an ample case for more musicians to explore the fringes a little more. When seeking something mind expansive, heavy, aggressive, and musically sound – here is an all-encompassing record to open your soul and let things breathe for the better.