Psychotic Episodes is the latest album from Echoes of Janus and If I can be honest, it’s a masterclass of all sorts. Yes. A masterclass and I’m all for it.
“Alligator” is where we were introduced to Echoes of Janus’s musical prowess. The track started with this Classic Rock tone that gives off this Led Zepplin feel to it. What made it interesting was the syncopated drum pattern alongside that crunchy guitar tone giving us this nostalgic feel. The addition of the acoustic guitar in the background is just perfect for that 60s vibe.
The acoustic guitar with percussion worked perfectly with the second track of the album, “Raindance.” The chord progression of this track gives off this “dancing under the moonlight” kind of feel. The guitar hook on the chorus part gave a different vibe to the overall track because of its grooviness. To end the song, Echoes of Janus decided to change things up by creating this syncopated drum pattern opening this bluesy vibe to the track.
“Hollow Ground” is the glam rock meets classic rock tune of the album. There is no doubt that Echoes of Janus knows how to make a guitar cry. The guitar lick of this track is just out of this world. We are three tracks in but the level of creativity is just through the roof. The heavy wah lead guitar part is heaven-sent.
The fourth track of the album, “Would You” is a masterclass in odd time signature. Honestly, I don’t enjoy listening to Odd Time but the way this track was executed is just on an ungodly level. This track alone made me want to pick up my instrument and practice. “Bette” is the more concise track of the album. It gears towards lyrical storytelling compared to the previous tracks. The use of guitar effects on this track is ingeniously executed. The lead guitar part of the track gives off this creepy-sounding feel to it that works hand in hand with the lyrics.
The sixth track of the album, “Beat You To Death” is for me, the most interesting song of the album. The heavy use of samples plus the rap in the verses works hand in hand giving off this NU Metal meets classic rock vibe to the track.
“Japan”, from the title itself, is the most ethnic-sounding track of the album. The use of this deep-sounding percussion in the intro and some parts of the track added depth to the song thus giving us this ethnic feel. Celestial Bureaucracy introduced us to this Black Sabbath kind of vibe of the album. The tad bit of distortion on the vocals works perfectly with the verses and the panning guitar effect in the latter part of the track is just genius!
“Celestial Bureaucracy” introduced us to this Black Sabbath kind of vibe of the album. The tad bit of distortion on the vocals works perfectly with the verses and the panning guitar effect in the latter part of the track is just genius!
And to close this album, “Please Send Us Some Love” cooled us down giving off this country vibe because of how the first part of the track was mixed. As the song progresses, the mix of the whole track changes gradually, and for me, adding the flanger effect to the vocals suits well with the overall feel of the track.
Overall, I bow down. It’s not easy to spot a virtuoso when you hear one but this album is a testament to Echoes of Janus’s wide and neverending creativity. Psychotic Episodes is a well-balanced album. The lyrics of the songs are easy to understand making them readily available to the masses. However, this is an album that gears towards artists looking for inspiration. Yeah, real music lovers will appreciate the artistry however, the casual bystanders will have a hard time grasping the concept of the album.
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About the Author
He has been in the music industry for two and a half decades. Currently, he plays bass guitar for a rock-reggae band called EnjointPh and a funk-fusion trio called Banky. He also hosts a podcast titled Usapang Musiko with Ervin Besana, which explores topics such as music, arts, and philosophy.
