An Italian-American alt-metal band, Klogr are an interestingly varied proposition as this three track EP/ten track live album demonstrates. With two albums to their name, 2011’s ‘till you decay’ and 2014’s ‘black snow’, the band have a strong selection of material to choose from when it comes to live performance and it is a generous gesture from an independent band to package a full live DVD alongside an EP. Musically the band are one of those that are liable inspire either intense love or outright hatred with their varied musical approach and scattershot vocals (ranging from brutalised metal roar to carefully controlled harmonies), but in a world where bands are increasingly seeking conformity, it is surely better to risk inspiring antipathy than apathy, and the myriad influences are what makes this EP so interesting.
Opening with a surging riff, the initial impression is that Klogr are another thrash band cashing in on the current revival, but just a few minutes shows you how wrong such an assumption is. The track moves through taught riffs, blistering screams, vocal harmonies (in the vein of At The Drive in) and some truly stunning solos. There’s a strong progressive thread to what’s going on, and no matter how heavy the riffs get, the band always tether their performance to the heady world of progressive rock, keeping things fluid and interesting where other bands might be tempted to simply drop their heads and rock. Equally powerful is the hefty riffing of ‘make your stand’ which pits helium-fuelled vocals against some devastating riffs to bold effect. The EP concludes with ‘breathing heart’, a comparatively short and straight forward hard rock song with a strong emotional undercurrent and a powerful chorus. It’s a brilliant introduction to the band and it more than sets the listener up for the unusually well-recorded live tracks which follow as a remarkably lengthy bonus.
However, rather than focus on the live tracks of the CD, it makes more sense to focus on the DVD which duplicates the live portion of the record. Filmed in Trezzo Sull’Adda (Milan) in November 2014, it’s a stark reminder of how far technology has progressed that even on a band on a relatively low budget can capture a concert with a clarity that was entirely beyond the reach of even the biggest rock stars just twenty years ago. A multi-camera shoot, the visuals for the DVD are surprisingly clear, although the show is blighted by the band’s inexplicable decision to randomly edit some shots in Sepia and a testament to the notion that you should not endlessly flick between multiple camera angles just because they’re there. Nonetheless, for fans of the band (or even for newcomers keen to check out the band) it’s a strong visual record and the sound, whilst only rendered in 2.0, is impressively clear throughout. With songs like ‘draw closer’ proving to be particularly impressive (but sadly none of the EP tracks present in their live incarnation), it’s notable that Klogr are a much heavier prospect as a live act, and the band clearly fire up the crowd who can be seen going suitably mental during songs like the awesome ‘vulture’s feast’. What really comes across during the recording, however, is how tight the band are and how good their vocals are, even in the (often more difficult) live environment. I was also surprised to note just how furiously entertaining I found the live show given that it is my first experience of the band, with the music being both powerful and complex, yet accessible and memorable at the same time. The band have clearly spent a good deal of time honing their skills, and this DVD is a testament to that hard work.
Overall the ‘make your stand’ ep represents fantastic value for money and a wonderful introduction to a talented and clearly passionate band. The music is first rate, the production impressive and the EP tracks particularly adrenalin charged. The live material made me instantly want to go out and buy the band’s earlier work, surely the point of any live release, and I strongly recommend this band to anyone who enjoys the heavier side of prog metal. Here you’ll find elements of tool, touches of the mars volta, hints of Deftones and more, all carefully controlled to ultimately produce Klogr’s own unique sound. Powerfully original, Klogr successfully showcase everything I love about prog metal.
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