Somewhere between alternative rock, indie rock, and hard rock you will find the talented Norwegian outfit Ribozyme, and one undisputable fact about this eighth opus of theirs titled Celestial Low is that these guys have spawned a style of their own and honed it to perfection. In fact, this scribe considers their latest offering the finest and most accomplished one in their discography yet, which is saying something.
With its delightfully raw guitars, organic atmosphere, and overall cohesion and flow, this record and its eight charismatic songs consist of some rather inventive and cool ideas not to mention that the arrangements are quite clever in places as things take some surprising turns now and again to keep you on your toes. Oh, you also want meaningful lyrics, emotive vocals, and superbly written melodies? Look no further than closing track ‘Square’, the melancholy ‘Bloodworks’, and the outright majestic (not to mention explosive) ‘Order’. The latter boasts a glorious chorus that will linger in the back of your mind for days on end. There is a certain vigour and vibrancy to the album that is uplifting and heartfelt, and the entire affair possesses a crunchy edge that truly adds to its charm. Simply put, dynamics is the keyword throughout, and I love its warmth and the analogue feel of it all.
Although a catchy listen in many respects, Celestial Low is the kind of thing that warrants and rewards repeated listens as there are more layers and textures to it than immediately meets the eye, which is basically just my way of saying that it is a grower and one that I have been coming back to several days in a row now. Considering the fact that the band contains members and ex-members of Vestamaran, Trust Us, and Major Parkinson, it is no wonder that the LP sounds so good! Ribozyme are back and a hard-rocking force to be reckoned with.
Celestial Low is out now via Apollon Records.
