Phicus - Solid (2020)

Phicus’ sound is guitar-heavy, no doubt about it. But opener HgO eases us in with drone-ominous arco bass and billowing sheets of cymbal. So far, so atmospheric and then Fages’ howling feedback guitar (loud howl, quiet howl, intricate howl, blunt howl) begins to speak – harsh, searing tones, precisely controlled. It’s exhilarating. Pickups groan and scream, tachycardic drums carry a metallic gleam, and the bass lurks with playful menace. Phicus are no simple noisefest, the whole of Solid is a poised yin-yang of brutality and elegance.

The language may appear simple, of limited vocabulary, but that’s belied by the dynamic breadth of expression that Fages, Reviriego and Trilla manage to throw out there. The sound connects with some zone below or beyond thought, tickling, prodding and bludgeoning that part of the brain that just wants to shout for the sheer joy of shouting. Eloquent playing with a somehow intellectual poise provokes a primitively satisfying response.