SON CESANO “Emerge”

Monobuster Records, 2022

Music: Progressive Music / Progressive Rock / Progressive Metal
Website:
www.soncesano.com
https://soncesano.bandcamp.com/
Duration: 46:00 (7 tracks)
Country: Switzerland

Metal with a hint of Jazz and Post-Rock is something that appeals to a lot of Metalheads. The reason being the inclusion of technical riffs and clever song structure which is slightly different from your regular Thrash or Death Metal – yet checking all the boxes when it comes to “heaviness”. Son Cesano, a quartet based out of Switzerland is one of my recent finds who fall under this bracket. Needless to say, a lot is going on in their songs – not just in this album but if you look back in 2018 when they released their prolific debut album “Submerge”, you will definitely catch a lot of groove-ey sections coupled with neat drumming and enjoyable riffs. Almost as if it was a dream debut for any band, as it put them on the cards as a local favourite.

Their latest effort “Emerge” isn’t any different but only better than “Submerge”. It shows how well the band have matured both in terms of musicianship and their appetite for introducing unique sections to their music. For instance, the first track “Monus Bonus” had a distinctive sound that almost drove through in a very Metal-Esque riff. “Nordic One” is just madness – possibly one of the best ones of the album. The song starts with one riff and ends with something else. Especially the last minute wherein the entire landscape of the song changes was just blissful to listen to. Drums are very likeable, and often you feel that the integration was top-notch and that it didn’t affect the rest of the instrumentation.

Being an instrumental act, there’s always this additional pressure on the songwriters to have the song speak for itself and convey the message without any vocals. Though I won’t say I got any message or if the songs were arranged in a way to tell the story, I can definitely vouch for the experience that it produced. It is very evident that the songs have a tinge of traditional progressive touch along with the modern approach to music. This kind of blend is regarded as blasphemous by many due to their dislike for modern music. But trust me, if you are one of those, this album will definitely change your mind!

At times blissful, occasionally thought-provoking and most of the times enjoyable, “Emerge” does emerge out of one of my best finds for 2022. The album is not out for a wide audience yet, as the band is gearing up for a November 4 release. While you wait for this album to drop, do take your time to check “The Mystic Four”. I must warn you though the songs might look long, but when you are into it, it only feels like 7 seconds as opposed to 7 minutes! Happy listening!

Tracklist:

1. Monus Bonus
2. The Nordic One
3. The Mystic Four
4. Ruskial
5. Pos. T
6. 6. Akt
7. Hardangial

Line-up:

Simon Marty – Guitar
Robin Weissen – Guitar
Julian Betschart – Bass
Dominik Zgraggen – Drums