Damian checks out a brand new summery rock rock band from Sweden
Hailing from Uppsala, Sweden, My Heart Is A Metronome started out as lead singer and guitarist Mattis Malinen’s solo project. He felt that the project needed a rhythm section. Enter Gustaf Simonsson (bass/backup vocals) and Felix Carlsten (drums/backup vocals). The bands new EP ’Tierp’, is named after Mattis’s hometown – also once named the ’ugliest town in Sweden’. The EP was mixed by three-time Grammy award winner Pelle Gunnerfeldt (The Hives, Refused, The Knife, Status Quo) and mastered by Robin Schmidt (Mumford & Sons, Ben Howard, Black Keys, The 1975),
The title song Tierp` opens with a jangly floating guitar riff followed by a bouncing drum beat and understated bass line laying down the foundation for Mattis`s quietly offered vocals to share the tale of the painful loss of a childhood friendship and how the rift could be repaired, maybe reconciled. I found this song really hypnotic and really uplifting listening on a cold, wet Spring morning.
`Pick it Up` is a faster tempo tune with some exceptional drumming and the play between guitar, drum and bass reminded me at times of some of the intricacies of the wonderful Canadian band Rush.
Cowbells introduce us to `Queen` before we get a rhythmic bass line and steady drum beat with vocals spoken almost rapped on top. The chorus is a change of pace and the lyrics “Sometimes you wish that there was someone there to hold you back, sometimes you wish there was someone there you knew you loved” truly got into my head and had me singing them throughout the day. I loved this song.
The last track `Bubble` starts off quietly before bursting into life. The subject is about learning to let go of a situation, problem whatever and not staying in a bubble. We get a subtle change of pace throughout the song reverting to a quiet lull before its back into a headlong rock out.
I was blown away by this EP and can understand why they have won the title of Sweden’s best unsigned band. Their music is intricate, captivating and compelling with some very personnel lyrics.
Let My Heart Is A Metronome beat strongly in your life. I guarantee they will set your pulse racing.
