A Progressive and Intense New Single from Yellow Majesty
The latest single release from Yellow Majesty has such a cool way of bringing together elements of progressive, alternative, and heavy rock styles, putting it all together in the form of something that feels so cinematic and has amazing builds that end up pulling you into their atmospheric and ambient tonality, and later giving you explosive and anthemic sections that feel driving.
"APHANTASIA" there's an absolutely massive track, and it starts off giving you that more expansive and spacious filled with guitars that are not exactly clean but not heavily distorted either. The tonality of how the guitars come through has a great effect on them and works perfectly with these very high-pitched sit pad tones that are coming through the background as well, helping it build that cinematic soundscape to begin with.
Right off the bat, you're getting a really cool time signature and rhythm. The vocals start coming in, and the guitars start plucking a little bit more. When the vocals do come in, they have a very subtle or sort of smooth tone to them, but you're paying attention to the lyrics right from the get-go.
You can also hear some of the additional effects on the guitars, like reverb, helping distance everything and give it that wet effect.
As the song plays on, it builds but stays sort of semi-theatrical at the same time.
The intro riff has played again, but it comes through a little harder dynamically. You begin to sense that something bigger is on its way soon.
These cool bells start coming in far in the background. They're kind of barely there, adding to the atmosphere of the song. The whole point is to be able to get you engulfed in the soundscape that's happening, which works like a charm.
The guitars burst into a heavier tone while the rhythm stays kind of the same but harder hitting. You have chords that are being hit, and it turns into an edgier, more alternative rock feel.
The vocals start harmonizing, and it feels almost like there are octaves that are being sung. The same note at a lower register, along with a higher one.
The guitars are perfectly overpowering here. You start to feel the drive of the song really take place, and you dig deeper into everything.
A significant change occurs in the chord progression, and the drumming starts to build in intensity as well. The main riff returns once more. This time it's fully distorted.
The time signature is even more evident here, and new guitars overlay the ones being played, with a more lead-style hook. Single notes that give a great melody and help the song introduce the vocals again.
Finally, everything explodes, and you're getting this absolutely massive sonic drive.
Along with everything else, the vocals are at full throttle. Gorgeous melodies and harmonies that are pushed harder and belted out a little bit more, so that again, the intensity level rises.
Everything is incredibly well thought out here. The arrangement of the song is absolutely everything. It is done with such attention to detail that you can tell it took time.
What really grabs me is how everyone was on the same page in terms of creating this song that sort of breathes. It has such a heavy inhale and exhale back down to calmness.
The particular way that the song builds up to what it becomes and then come at the very end reminds you where it began, is brilliant.
I absolutely fell right into this track, and it's a big one. It's 7 and 1/2 minutes in length. It's an amazing escape and really pulls you away from wherever you are and puts you in their little atmosphere for a chunk of time, which is outstanding.
There is also a great balance of energy going throughout this song.
This may be because Yellow Majesty is actually a solo-proect helmed by Amir Haj-Bolouri.
On this single, drummer Ilan Rubin — known from Foo Fighters and Nine Inch Nails is performing, and what an incredible job he does.
This was certainly something that hit pretty hard, and again, came through as a cinematic and vast, progressive but hard-hitting alternative rock single that showcases an artist that puts a lot of time and attention into creating songs that are outside the box enough to hit with an aesthetic that feels intelligent.
Take a deep dive into this one and listen to it with headphones on because it's one of the best ways to take it in.
