Boss Keloid – Melted on the Inch
It’s not very often that you find a band so very unique as Boss Keloid. I remember stumbling across this Wigan five piece during a hazy afternoon at Bloodstock Festival, and being instantly hooked on their strangeness.
I wouldn’t say I’m the ultimate knowledge on everything, but I was amazed at how utterly different they are compared to anything I’ve heard before or afterward. Try imagining if The Doors had taken up metal. With these trippy vocals floating upon drawn out riffs as they traverse a smoke filled peyote landscape, I can’t help but hear the resemblance.
While I imagine some of the metal purists may struggle with Boss Keloid, they are a band that keeps my attention with every listen. It’s prog, let’s not mess around here. They’re off on their own path which is what’s so fascinating about them.
Standard song structures do not exist here, but this isn’t just riffs smashed together. The listener is invited on an adventure where each song feels like a chapter in a tale of self discovery, with a sense of optimism and wonder, while heaviness lurks on the back of every movement. Huge sections build, swell and drop into crushing riffs and solid beats. Driving forward then dropping into quiet harmonies where the Keyboards add a depth, keeping the ears busy providing yet more atmosphere to the mix.
I was a huge fan of their previous effort “Herb your enthusiasm”, and here we see Boss Keloid taking what worked in the last album and expanding out in all directions. So whilst it might not seem as heavy in places, the clean and gentler areas are expanded with finesse and skill. Nothing feels like it has been sacrificed to make room for, it’s simply more of everything. It’s where many bands fail when adapting their sound so it’s a relief to a returning fan.
All in all I think this is an excellent piece of music. It’s only real drawback may be that it will absolutely be far too out there so some. But it’s probably a good thing that Boss Keloid won’t care about that, as long as they keep writing such great music.
Score – 8/10
Melted On The Inch Tracklisting:
1: Chronosiam
2: Tarku Shavel
3: Peykruve
4: Jromalih
5: Lokannok
6: Griffonbrass
Boss Keloid are:
Paul Swarbrick | Guitar
Alex Hurst | Vocals and Guitar
Ste Arands | Drums and Percussion
Matthew Milne | Keyboards
Charlie Seisay | Bass
