Review: Frank Sabbath - Are You Waiting?

Those who may have caught my recent podcast would have heard a track of pure, unrelenting freak-out guitar from Frank Sabbath, a name unknown to me until an email dropped into my inbox. One investigation later and I'm hooked! The band hail from France and formed in 2013; the members (Guillaume Jankowski (bass), Baptiste Reig (drums, vocals), Jude Mas (guitare, vocals) and Léo Minart (sound engineer, tapist)) have varied musical backgrounds from which they blend their own freeform take on psychedelia...and it rocks! The band state that they are "no longer rehearsing and concentrating only on free improvisation during gigs". 'Are You Waiting?' is their third album and it is seriously recommended that you check it out as well as their previous material.

There are just the four tracks on the album with 'Goat' kicking things off. It opens with a flurry of shredding before settling down into a jam of huge proportions..hi-octane guitar is accompanied by some huge bass and crashing drums..the stuff of dreams. Whilst primarily a psychedelic workout there are flashes of seventies krautrock to be heard amidst the fuzz and at times it strays into seventies hard rock/psych but with music this good who cares about genres eh? I've said it before but I'll say it again, the real joy of this blogging lark is when a band appears on your musical horizon and just blow you away...it's fair to say that Frank Sabbath blow me away. 'Lazarus' is another huge track with some great psych guitar, the first few minutes are heavily psychedelic based but the track evolves and grows over its eleven minute length; the vocal segments have a heavy prog vibe while at other times things get very stonerish. Just when you think you have a hold on the Frank Sabbath sound along comes 'Take The Lead' - delicate guitar and shimmering cymbals herald a track of hazy, trippy psychedelia. It has a distinct jazzy vibe to it that imbues the track with groove whilst never losing that bucolic dreamy quality...a seriously good track! The album is closed with 'Sasume' and everything changes one more...the guitars are turned up to eleven once more and a monumental heavy psych monster is born. The addition of some frenzied (pseudo?) Japanese vocals give things a dissonant quality at times but never takes away the quality of the music...these guys seriously know how to play! The introduction of some organ towards the end brings some seventies authenticity to a highly enjoyable collection of tracks.

'Are You Waiting?' is an extraordinary album; it is ever shifting in its approach and demonstrates an assured fluidity in its structure. They are never content to find a style and rigidly stick to it, the varied backgrounds of the band are evident, not so much in the tracks per se but rather in the elements and influences that shine through. It is played with skill and verve and a mischievous grin and this all adds up to a highly enjoyable trip. The album is available as a download and a CD via the band's Bandcamp page here and while you are there check out their other releases.