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Rating: Epic Spleen is the self-produced debut album of Jack Brain, the solo project of the underground musician from Reggio Calabria, Giacomo Casile.
After being part of various bands across different genres, Giacomo decided to embark on a new musical journey on his own, aiming to rework the sounds of 90s grunge/alternative rock; thus, the 12 tracks that will be part of the first full-length album were born.
It is a very homogeneous and interesting work where the main influence of the Seattle sound coexists with darkwave and industrial passages, creating a tortuous and nightmarish path. The tracks are all short and direct, with simple structures in Nirvana style but never banal, as the guitar riffing is quite personal, with musical solutions that effectively and never chaotically alternate between harmony and disharmony.
From the energetic opener "This life," you're immediately catapulted into a dark and introspective atmosphere with dissonant guitars and rough singing in punk rock style. As you proceed, the sound transitions from the slower and atmospheric ballads like "Nobody knows," "Abyss," and "Another day" to other more aggressive episodes like "Gone away" and "Lost," with filtered vocals in Nine Inch Nails style. The instrumental "Anarada" (with a sinister and hypnotic sound) and the melancholic title track close the circle.
The only flaw, perhaps, is that the album maintains a constant mood and tension throughout its 44-minute duration, which can become tiring and should be revised for future projects, giving more variety and breath to the whole; however, there's no denying that Epic Spleen is a very valid debut, showcasing an artist with great potential and talent behind this moniker.
Finally, those looking for carefree and sunny rock will hardly find themselves in these songs, while grunge enthusiasts and fans of related genres should give this project a chance.
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