PAČESS have been around for some time, "Poupě" being their third full-length album since the release of their debut a decade ago, but this time round have graduated from ostensibly an eponymously-named solo project of main man Pačess to a full band arrangement, featuring various luminaries from the Czech metal scene. On the evidence of this release, the new-found collaboration has been highly beneficial, and the result is a strong and compelling album, which skilfully traverses a number of extreme metal sub-genres, while never moving too far into the realms of the avant-garde to lose a clear emphasis on memorable song-writing, featuring an array of hooks sharp enough to burrow deep under your skin.

The title track opens the album in elegant style, with lush swells of synth gradually giving way to chugging guitars, and mournful spiralling leads, everything coming together into an approximation of the kind of mournful, gothic melodrama that suggests that although PAČESS hail from the Czech Republic, their influences stem predominantly from Scandinavia. This slow-burn epic really soars when it transitions into a down-tempo bridge section which combines the kind of pastoral mellotron break that Opeth utilise frequently in their post-Blackwater Park output, with some delightful, minor key twin guitar harmonies, hinting that somewhere below the surface lurks a band that have constructed a diverse and wide-ranging sound on a solid foundation of metal classicism.

One of the most intriguing features of "Poupě", is the extent to which the band's sound changes from track to track. At times, this is reminiscent of the scattershot approach of Root, which may seem like a lazy comparison given their reputation as arguably the preeminent Czech metal band, but is in fact justified in the light of the fact that PAČESS share members with Big Boss's occasional side project, and some of the off-kilter vocal phrasing in particular shows clear evidence of a shared sensibility. Despite the shape-shifting sound, there is enough of a common sonic thread running through the album to ensure that it just about hangs together, but it is still slightly jarring to move from the doomy rock of the title track to the Watain and Dissection-flavoured melodic black metal of the admittedly spectacular 'Sommelier'. Tremolo guitar figures mesh seamlessly with chiming synth lines, and the band show a keen sense of dynamics, shifting the tempo throughout the track, each section bleeding into the next without sign-posting the joins too clumsily. Indeed, PAČESS have a knack for the composition of deft arrangements, which ensure that the majority of tracks contain an unforgettable and original motif designed to ensure that the listener will feel the unmistakeable desire to return regularly, in order to sate their appetite for more of the welcoming and enveloping atmosphere that the band are so adept at creating. 'Jako Most K Lidem' is the most thrilling example of this, placing a rolling bassline courageously high in the mix, the guitars converging with it to form the centrepiece of the song, a whirring, industrial-sounding single-note riff creating something magnificent from a limited set of ingredients, proving that the greatest ingenuity can often be found in simplicity.

Not every component of the album is quite as engaging as this, however, and it would be disingenuous not to point out some of the minor flaws in what is nevertheless a splendid piece of work. The strength of the first three tracks is not quite matched by the second half of the record, which does not contain the compositional depth of the first half. The stirring folk metal vocal melodies of 'Butan-2, 3-dion' are not quite enough on which to hang the rest of a meandering song, and similarly, 'Reinheitsgebot' commences with solid riffing that again recalls Watain, and even their compatriots Obtained Enslavement, in its slightly off-the-wall use of intrusive, but fascinating, synth arrangements, but overall, it is ultimately somewhat one-dimensional for a band that clearly have the tools at their disposal to craft something more intricate and progressive. This is proven decisively by the truly immersive 'Jménem Lilie', which closes the album in style, a bittersweet slab of magisterial gloom to bring us full circle, matching the quality of the excellent opening track.

As a whole, the album displays a satisfyingly organic feel, conjuring heady atmospherics with layers of sound, synths draped over the metallic framework like a fuggy, low-hanging haze, suffusing the entire album with a dreamlike quality which enhances the sophisticated and classy compositions. Poupě apparently translates from Czech as 'bud', and it is a well-chosen title. Pačess are clearly a band that, in the right conditions, can flourish and flower into something rather beautiful. In the here and now though, Poupě is certainly impressive enough to draw admiring glances from all who pass, and resilient enough at its core to withstand the changing of the seasons, ensuring that it will continue to stand tall long into the future.

PAČESS is:

Pačess - guitars
Ing. Tomáš František Hanzl a.k.a. Chymus - vocals
Tomáš Parambucha Řeřucha - bass
Jakub Fritsche - guitars
Filip Smetana - drums
Čed - keyboards

MORE INFO AND PRE-ORDERS:

http://www.pacess.cz/
https://www.facebook.com/PacessBand
https://www.slovakmetalarmy.sk/
https://www.facebook.com/slovakmetalarmy
https://pacess-sma.bandcamp.com/

Artillery, Whiplash, Xentrix and Vio-Lence invite to the Headbanger's Ball on this sore December evening and many fans accept the invitation, I think the Turock was pretty much sold out.

It starts with the Danes from Artillery, who carry away the audience from the first minute and sell their melodic thrash very well. They not only focus on the newer songs, but also play tracks from their older albums, which is frantically received in the audience. Singer Michael Bastholm Dahl is super likable and moves permanently all over the stage and also the somewhat older gentlemen at the instruments seem very agile. A successful start of the concert.

Setlist: The Challenge / By Inheritance / The Face Of Fear / Khomaniac / In Thrash We Trust / Terror Squad / The Almighty

Afterwards Whiplash metaphorically tore down the venue with their set. Focusing mainly on their first three albums, they know how to convince completely. Here, for the first time this evening, a few stage divers can be seen, especially the girl who steals the mic from her live bassist William Winton (and his look during this) are worth their weight in gold. No eye remains dry during the performance, an absolute killer show!

Setlist: Last Man Alive / Killing On Monroe Street / Burning Of Atlanta / Insult To Injury / Sword Metal Skull / Walk The Plank / This / Stagedive / Spiral Of Violence / Red Bomb / Spit On Your Grave / Power Thrashing Death

Hard to top the whole thing, but Xentrix got one better. They only play songs from their first two albums and instead of their current singer Jay Walsh, who didn't want to miss the birth of his child, their former singer Chris Astley is part of the band. The whole thing thus feels very nostalgic and is another highlight of the evening. Xentrix show is full of energy and at least for me next to Whiplash the highlight of the evening.

Setlist: Black Embrace / Balance Of Power / Questions / Reasons For Destruction / The Human Condition / Kept In The Dark / Dark Enemy For Whose Advantage? / Crimes / No Compromise

With Vio-Lence there is some more brutality on stage. Singer Sean Killian seems to be doing really well again after his serious illness. He moves across the stage like a psychopath, suddenly drops into the audience and also has a corresponding facial expression. In any case, he seems to enjoy the concert, just like the other musicians of the band, and he doesn't miss the chance to push some stage divers off the stage. Sometimes his acting is a bit over the top, but the audience celebrates the performance, which mainly includes songs from the classic album Eternal Nightmare, frenetically.

This evening was an absolutely memorable event and for me one of the concert highlights of 2022, hopefully 2023 will also hold such killer events!

Setlist: Eternal Nightmare / Serial Killer / Calling In The Coroner / Officer Nice / I Profit / Kill On Command / Flesh From Bone / Mentally Afflicted / T.D.S. (take It As You Will) / Upon Their Cross / Phobophobia / Let The World Burn