Celestial Low
Apollon, 2023
10/10
The hard rock Norway outfit Ribozyme return with an 8th album, where 8 tracks unfold with energy and precision thanks to Cato Olaisen, Bard Kristinson, Kjartan Ericson and Thomas Lonnheim.
The thick guitars of the melodic and bright “Newly Defeated” opens the listen with a punchy and radiant delivery, and “Bloodwords” follows with a swirling, nearly post-hardcore approach that reminds us of Jimmy Eat World on steroids, as it unfolds with power and melody.
The middle track, “Order” carries a hint of dreaminess, where Olaisen’s charged drums and Kristinson’s glowing bass are meticulous, while the title track buzzes with some traces of prog-rock embedded into the soaring, anthem album highlight.
“Biggest Upset” and “Square” exit the listen, as the former is nearly is dance floor ready, albeit in an alt-rock sort of way, and the latter leads with warm ambience before segueing into dynamic, thumping and ferocious yet harmonic territory.
A listen with as much radio appeal as, say, Foo Fighters or Placebo, if your interests surround anything near modern rock, alt-rock or hard rock, Ribozyme will be right up your alley.
Travels well with: Spirit Tomb- Spiritus Lacrimarum: Dolorem in Lacrimas Efundere; Strange Horizon- Skur 14