(4-track demo/ 2002)
Now then, now then.
Who's getting excited?
Me. And you wanna know why?
JAHSOMA!
This is outstanding stuff from the note go, the momentum relentless, the surprises never-ending.
The first thing I noticed was this Swindon metal band's imaginative song titles, as opener 'King me' apes a multi-stranded beast of a song, urging the country to mosh en masse. In turns they do sound up to the high standards set by mainstream bands such as Linkin Park et al, while in others Jahsoma simply do sound way way better than any metal-anchored music I've heard before.
Because this music doesn't stop in its 'metal' gully. Instead it courageously claws out and across multiple genres, as the screaming and shouting within is underpinned by some brilliant vocal harmonies showing a scope rarely witnessed in this genre of music. Another two bands who do come close in creating a similarly epic sound of raging beauty are Purple Sticky Punch and Phoenix Butterfly.
Check out Jahsoma's 'Make Your Mind Yours' and 'Positively Negative Image' for proof, both of which feature awesomely poignant lulls out of nowhere in the inferno of complex, perfectly polished noise, so masterfully stroking some deep and meaningful Emo-grunge nerves into the stylish bargain.
Meanwhile 'Pavlovian,' hardily wedged between the 2 aforementioned loud-quiet-loud classics, summons a more straightforwardly dark presence in the vein of Cradle of Filth, the guitars raging against normality - and the throttling choruses so distinct from the verses it does hurt.
Jahsoma are friggin awesome. Whatever their name means. (STEVE RUDD)
CONTACT JAHSOMA� E-mail� [email protected] or Tel 07789 061367