Hypomanic Daydream is the brainchild of an artist who goes by the name Manic Dream Girl. The Yearning (The Fiadh / self-release) is Hypomanic Daydream’s first full-length, following a split album and two EPs. Almost everything on the record, including the mixing and artwork was done by MDG herself, with some bass clarinet solos by Quetzal Tirado and additional drum production by Garry Brents (Gonemage, Sallow Moth, many other projects). Mastering was handled by Breandan Sloan (Convulsing).
The musical influences on The Yearning are myriad and diverse. Whilst its core sound is based around a kind of avant-garde death metal, the impressions of computer game music, Jazz, and even modern Classical can all be detected.
Indeed, the music is suitably manic and delightfully weird. Vicious Death Metal guitar riffs underpin the sound, but that is only part of the story. Dizzying synth lines often dominate, recalling old-school video game soundtracks. Unusual, quieter avant-garde breakdowns featuring vocoders and odd synth effects also punctuate the maelstrom of heavy riffs.
MDG’s wonderfully eclectic voice takes centre stage. She delivers viscerally powerful growls, spoken word segments, and melodic lines that veer dramatically between commanding mid-range refrains and demented high-pitched screams.
The melodies and rhythms jump around almost constantly. Syncopation, odd time signature changes, and harmonic dissonance all feature heavily.
Whilst this record is jam-packed with interesting musical content, there are several notable highlights. “Dissociative” is full of unusual vocal harmonies over the top of powerful chugging riffs. “The Yearning” features strange circus-like organ lines blended with blasting double-kick drums. “Visceral Nostalgia” showcases compellingly dark jazz-doom riffs. “Daydreamer” at times sounds like a prog-rock version of Talking Heads. “Enshitification” has some truly terrifying screams and also houses the aforementioned bass clarinet parts.
The Yearning is densely packed with discordant riffs, blasting synthetic drums, acrobatic vocals, and synths that provide counterpoint and colour. It can be disorientating, but repeat plays allow the listener to make ever more sense of the smorgasbord of weirdness that the record presents.
This record is by no means an easy listen. Its complexity, diversity, and ever-changing nature may deter some listeners. However, it is notable that Hypomanic Daydream doesn’t really sound like anyone else and, therefore, is likely to appeal to fans of extreme metal in search of something new and unique. The Yearning distills its many influences to create something truly novel. It is an extreme metal record that transcends the boundaries and restrictions of that category.
Buy the album here:
https://fiadh.bandcamp.com/album/the-yearning
7 / 10
DUNCAN EVANS
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