Artist: Seven That Spells
Label: Beta-lactam Ring Records
Release: 2008
Rating: 4.2/5
Seven That Spells is the name of yet another one of Niko Potočnjak’s bands. It’s actually the primary project of this versatile musician, and he’s been at it for quite a while, whereas Tigrova Mast is a relatively fresh venture. But one thing matters: whatever lineup he plays in, we’re always guaranteed good music, and this time he and his mates didn’t let us down either.
Black OM Rising is already the band’s fifth studio release, with their debut dropping back in 2003. These guys are hard workers, no doubt about it. Unlike Tigrova Mast, this isn’t some brutal punk/avant-garde rock thing, but rather more of those space rock elements, like hypnotic guitar motifs and dreamy, cosmic keyboards. The differences between Seven That Spells and Niko’s other outfit Tigrova Mast are pretty huge. With Tigrova Mast everything goes straight for the jugular, the music is more dynamic and hits you right away. Seven That Spells, on the other hand, have a certain mystical vibe to their sound. There’s still plenty of punk and hard rock in there, that rebellious streak, but there are also more dreamy moments, which might sound funny given that Seven That Spells are way more guitar-driven than Tigrova Mast (Tigrova Mast don’t have any guitars at all), but that’s just how it feels. If these tracks were on a Tigrova Mast record, they’d most likely be a lot shorter and less stretched out. But it’s precisely this stretched-out dreaminess that makes Seven That Spells special and sets them apart from the punk avant-garde you hear with Tigrova Mast. The rhythm section is still incredibly strong, the guitars are blazing, but the saxophone, synth and somewhat longer arrangements add that psychedelic space rock touch. Space rock bands can sometimes get boring when they overdo the overlong arrangements and can’t rein in their egos, but with Seven That Spells everything clicks. The music has just the right mix of punch and mysticism.
Even though it’s just one disc, it’s double-sided, meaning one side holds the studio album, while the other is a DVD of a concert Seven That Spells played in Zagreb. Live, much like Tigrova Mast, they come across in a really great light. Niko might even belong behind a guitar more than on that little stool behind the miniature keyboards. These guys have a great feel for performing, they know how to pull in the crowd and get them hyped, especially the guitarist and bassist, who are the most active ones on stage.
What else is there to say? Niko Potočnjak’s projects are clearly always a bullseye, and Black OM Rising is more proof of that. It’s genuinely high-quality, melodic space rock that knows how to take you on a trip. Too bad the ride ends so fast. But never mind. The guys are so hard-working that they’ve already put out a new album this year called Cosmoerotic Dialogue With Lucifer, on which they teamed up with Kawabata Makoto.
Seven That Spells is the name of another of Niko Potocnjak’s (also of Tigrova Mast) bands. This is in fact his primary project and he has had this band for a long time, while Tigrova Mast has only got started more recently. But only one thing matters. In whichever group he plays, we can rest assured that he and his band mates will produce some fine music and he didn’t let us down this time either.
Black OM Rising is already the fifth album by this band, which put out its debut in 2003. The guys work hard, there’s no doubt about that. Unlike Tigrova Mast, which is more about brutal punk/avant-garde rock, this project is more about space rock elements, in particular the hypnotic guitar themes and the dreamy keyboards. The differences between Seven That Spells and Niko’s other project Tigrova Mast are very obvious. Tigrova Mast is more about first impact, the music is much more in your face, while Seven That Spells have a mystical element about them. There’s still a great deal of punk and hard rock in the music (the rebellious element), but there are many more dreamy segments, which may sound ridiculous as Seven That Spells are much more guitar oriented than Tigrova Mast (Tigrova Mast in fact don’t use any guitars at all), but it’s true. If the pieces that are on here would grace a Tigrova Mast album, they would most likely be much shorter and not as prolonged. But it is exactly this prolonged dreaminess that makes Seven That Spells special. It separates them from the punk avant-garde that we hear with Tigrova Mast. The rhythm section is still immensely strong, the guitars are heavy, but the saxophone, synthesizer and the longer arrangements create that psychedelic space rock feel. I sometimes find space rock bands boring because their songs go on for too long and the egos can get out of hand, but with Seven That Spells everything seems to be in place. The music is just the right combination of mystical space elements and the impact of hard rock.
Even though this is just one CD, you can play it on both sides, meaning that one side contains the studio CD, while the other features a DVD of a concert Seven That Spells played in Zagreb. Just like Tigrova Mast, they come off really well live. Niko actually seems more at home with the guitar than behind those miniature keyboards, while sitting on a tiny chair. The guys have a good feeling for showmanship, they know how to get the audience fired up and involved. This applies especially to the guitar and bass players who are the most active members on stage.
There’s really not much more to say. The projects of Niko Potocnjak are obviously always a total success. Black OM Rising is even more proof to that end. This is high-quality and melodic space rock that really takes you for a ride. The only pity is that the ride ends so soon. But, no matter. The guys are so hard-working that there’s already a new album out entitled Cosmoerotic Dialogue With Lucifer, on which they collaborated with Kawabato Makoto.
Lineup
Niko Potočnjak – guitar, synthesizer
Lovro Zlopaša – saxophone
Bruno Motik – drums
Narantxa – bass
Production
Seven That Spells
Tracklist
1. Fluxion (5:43)
2. RA (4:37)
3. LO I (2:35)
4. LO II (4:04)
5. LO III (4:20)
6. Black OM Rising (4:50)
7. Daktari (5:20)
8. Tearjerker (8:30)
Album length: 39:59
