I love drawers. My closet is full of them. There are drawers everywhere, big, small, spacious, and tiny. Each drawer has a name so I can find my way around and always know where everything is. That's helpful. Because it is so helpful, many areas of thought are organized into drawers, where everything that one supposedly wants to find again is placed. Prejudices, opinions, and also music styles. MINOR UTOPIA call their style Progressive - Industrial - Metal. Clear enough?
Not for me!
It sounds somewhat cumbersome.
The debut album by MINOR UTOPIA from Rostock does not make it easy for the listener, although while listening to the guitar-heavy music, one is reminded of familiar sounds from time to time.
The trio from Rostock, consisting of two men and one woman, plays dark, guitar-heavy metal-rock sound. The range of effects is primarily used for the dark intros. In the song itself, the effects are not in the foreground. It is rather the already mentioned guitar and the multifaceted vocals of Michelle. Singer Michelle has many influences of a sassy punk singer, which she knows how to deliver with power; however, her voice struggles to reach the higher ranges, even though she would like to. This fact sometimes makes one feel real sympathy, as the lady repeatedly tries to reach those heights while simultaneously battling against the drums and her own guitar. An endeavor that is not crowned with success.
Musically, the band positions itself in a gray area, as the fan of progressive rock will hear too many industrial influences that he probably won't like. The industrial fan will have a similar experience. The metalhead might enjoy the music but will most likely have some issues with the vocals. The band's courage to have created something unique that is not commonplace remains. That is commendable, but is it really enough to play for more than just their own friends?
