YOBREPUS – A Rhizome Revolution Part 2

I was thoroughly taken with A Rhizome Revolution Part 1 when that came out roughly seven months ago as it was an emotionally demanding yet perfectly accessible and rewarding listen that managed to transport the listener elsewhere and leave a lasting impression.

The textures and motifs the band so effortlessly conjured up and provided so beautifully on the first part of the installment are very much intact and prominent on this brand-new epic cauldron of an art rock album. Yobrepus are clearly still intent on forging their own winding path, and I find Part 2 an immensely intriguing piece of work that perfectly balances melody and abstraction, intensity and vulnerability, warmth and bleakness. In other words, contradictions are in free play throughout, but it never feels as if the songs do not develop organically, and although I used the term abstract before, the words and lyrics are undoubtedly grounded in reality and correspond to modern-day concerns in a relatable manner. From the subdued and calm to the disquieting and explosive, this is a bold and colorful musical statement that contains just about everything one could want from a forward-thinking record, but it requires full attention from start to finish.  

The atmosphere and hidden layers that shimmer ever so elegantly underneath the dense yet appealing compositions is constantly present from beginning to end and ties everything neatly together, resulting in a cohesive opus that is intricate, moving, and proudly dramatic. A Rhizome Revolution Part 2 is as deep as it is diverse and sounds equally fresh and thrilling.