REZN, Houston w/ Another Heaven @ 7th Street Entry | 7-5-23
Review & Photos by Ben Mckone
Another Heaven
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Minnesota’s own Another Heaven, a self-described “sludge-gaze” band, took the stage first. The group cut a low-key and unassuming figure, with two of the five-piece wearing sweatpants; however, their music proved to be anything but ordinary.
Like many acts in the “-gaze” side of metal - that is to say, various genres of metal combined with the dreamy textures of shoegaze - Another Heaven’s music combines the winsome melancholy of shoegaze with the more aggressive emotions of metal.
In particular, Another Heaven takes the rhythm section of sludge metal, with hard-pounding drums and a heavy bass foundation, and pairs it with clean vocals and shimmering guitar lines courtesy of a hollow-body guitar, an unusual choice to say the least, but one which added a great deal of texture to the sound.
Frontman Ali Jaafar’s vocals mainly stayed clean, with only a few moments of harsh screams punctuating the set. His calm but plaintive voice provided an excellent counterpoint to the harsher aspects of the group’s sound.
An exciting and unique aspect of Another Heaven’s set was their use of sampled audio to bridge the gap between songs. The selections were eclectic to say the least, ranging from a radio station caller ranting about his distaste for Britney Spears to what sounded like a set of instructions for self-administering acupuncture. It was a singular choice that added a slightly surreal touch to the otherwise plain atmosphere of the group.
Despite their polite and slightly timid stage presence, Another Heaven has a unique sound and a strong sense of harmony, emotion, and atmosphere. Hopefully, Another Heaven can find a place to make their mark as the post-metal genre continues to broaden and diversify.
Houston
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The appearance of hard-edged Minneapolis rockers Houston was rather mysterious, as their biography on the First Avenue website stated that they disbanded in 2004. No matter; the trio took the stage after Another Heaven, announcing their intention to play ‘some rock and roll songs’
Despite the descriptor used above, Houston’s music is more eclectic than plain rock and roll, sitting somewhere near a crossroads of of noisy indie rock and grooving melodic punk. A particular highlight of their sound was bassist Lane Soderberg and guitarist Jeff Halland’s extensive use of effects, occasionally making their instruments sound more like synthesizers than guitars.
Front man Jeff Halland was an idiosyncratic and energetic stage presence, informing the audience that the groups new LP has not been released yet because it is currently ‘on a boat somewhere’, and continually doing battle with his amp and pedal-board, which, he complained, “sounded funky”.
Despite his technical difficulties, the group stayed tight and vibrant throughout. Much older - or rather, more experienced- than the other two acts on the bill, Houston brought the type of verve and energy that can only come from a lifetime spent on the stage.
Apparently back from the dead after nearly 20 years, Houston seemed right in their elements at 7th Street Entry. And whenever their LPs get off of that boat, there should be a few new fans waiting for it.
REZN
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The audience had swelled to near-capacity by the time REZN took the stage, and their admiration began before the first notes had been played. During the band’s set up, vocalist/guitarist Rob McWilliams made an immediate impression with his extensive pedal-board. The more technically-minded audience members crowded up to the edge of the stage to pictures and speculate on how much it had cost to put together.
However no amount of speculation could compare to the force of the sounds it created. From the beginning, REZN flooded the small venue with a rich and roiling ocean of sound, conjuring images of mysterious ceremonies and distant planets.
Although firmly rooted in the fuzzy brand of doom metal that worships at the altar of Black Sabbath, St. Vitus, and Cathedral, REZN proved more instrumentally adventurous than many of their contemporaries, utilizing both synthesizers and saxophone, both played by the multi-talented Spencer Ouelette.
While understandable for a young band of limited means, it’s unfortunate that REZN don’t make use of rear-projection or other visual aids, as their immersive and psychedelic music would match perfectly with a more extensive visual presentation. But the group made more than enough noise to make up for this. Much like Another Heaven earlier, McWilliams’ vocals largely stayed clean and smooth, keeping a sense of warmth and familiarity despite the crushingly heavy instrumentation.
Seeing a group like REZN live reminds one of the aspects of music that simply cannot be appreciated through studio recordings. The sheer power of music - and metal especially- lies in how it can move the body physically as well as emotionally. Embarking on a three week tour, and with two albums - a solo LP and a collaboration - out this year, REZN is an ambitious band with big plans. For those looking for a deep and heady trip across the cosmos, you could do a lot worse than to join REZN on their journey to the stars.
