FLOWER - Heel Of The Next / Physical God (2024) - 7" EP

Band...........................Flower

Album..........................Heel Of The Next / Physical God

Year.............................2024

Genre..........................crust punk

Format.........................vinyl EP

Country........................USA

Web.............................bandcamp, youtube 

Label............................Fight For Your Mind, Peace Of Mind

 

newest release by this monster of a band, Flower from New York, US which came somehow as unexpected surprise to me and out of nowhere, I don't know is it because of their absence from the internet world (didn't see they use any social media/web platform except of bandcamp page) or I just didn't expect new material by them so soon after their great debut "Hardly A Dream" which was released basically just a year ago on Profane Existence..

for the beginning just to mention 2 things, 1st I don't always feel comfortable when writing a review for a "big" bands, by "big" I don't think on sellout/rockstars big or anything like that but big in those our diy crust punk circles, you know, the ones that are well known and respected, acceptable among listeners of various genres, with let's say worldwide fan base, etc. and Flower are big, or at least they will become (considering they are still young and relatively fresh band), trust me.. because who am I to preach something that has already been said a hundred of times or about what everyone already know everything, but this record is so good I just had to write a few words about it.. and 2nd, when their above mentioned LP was released by the end of 2022, on first few listens I didn't understand all the hype which was slowly started to rise around this release and band itself, despite the obviously similarities to Nausea and the fact that it was released on mighty Profane I didn't hear or feel anything so special.. but later, when I dove deeper into it I comprehend all the power and beauty of their music and this record..

so now that that's been said, when I saw that they released new material by the end of the last year and published it on bandcamp I was also all hyped and shortly after few listens those two songs get stuck on my playlist for quite some time and I knew I have to get it when it will be released on vinyl, so here it is now..

I was so curious on how will the new Flower's material sound like, because let's be honest it's probably hard for a band which starts with so awesome debut as they did to write new music and offer better or at least the same good stuff, but they did it in proper way and this EP is perfect new chapter in their existence.. 2 lengthy (around 4 min each) anarcho crust punk anthems in Nausea/Sacrilege style with brilliant trashy guitar with some killer crust punk riffs and only few, not to pushy solos here and there, great massive and perceptible bass sound, drums which are precise and on point all wrapped with anarcho styled female vocals just like those of Amy from Nausea.. there are some debates if they are Nausea ripoff, well I don't care, yes everything from music, lyrics to aesthetics and artwork brings strong vibes from their legendary fellow citizens but that's not bad thing, it's interesting just that anyone succeed into getting even close to recreating of this sound and feel and they sure don't even try to hide the obvious influences.. and if you want to go that way, one thing is sure, they sounds better now than Nausea's possibly reunion ever would.. 

production is also superb and brings us this dirty, rusty, although at the same time clean and quality sound and atmosphere similar to those late 80s/early 90s records for which we all are complete suckers for, but with today's equipment and maybe a little easier availability of the same the whole thing sounds a way more powerful.. 

fun thing is that I accidentally, while playing it for the first time, put vinyl on 33 RPM and it sounded surprisingly listenable, like some slow Amebix-alike dark metal crust..  

lyrically again some parallels with Nausea can be drawn (it would be interesting to know if title of the song Physical God have any reference to Cybergod), they are sure political band dealing with social (in)justice, gentrification and anti-capitalist/state topics, lyrics are lengthy and more complicated than those of some average d-beat band and it's nice to see that someone still cares about sending the message through music which is maybe not so common in today's crust punk when lyrics becomes only aesthetics which suits well to overall dark crust imagery..

and beside the music, artwork is also story for itself, I have this feel that it's equally important as music and it really does stand out.. maybe you wouldn't guess on the first just by looking on it's cover online but once you fold out the covers which are actually kind of two sided big poster you'll realize how magical it is.. there is so much tiny details on it you can stare into it for hours and again and again find some crazy hidden gem.. for all the artwork for this record is responsible band's guitarist Willow and damn, it turns out as a true masterpiece..

this EP is released on their own label Peace Of Mind in US and in Europe by Fight For Your Mind records in respectable amount of 1371 copies and here is wide spread well as I see through various labels and distribution, I got mine from Ruin Nation distro for quite pricey 8 € but it was worth it because it's about one hell of a record which I will spin numerous times and will be enjoying in it forever, the only minus is that it's too short and while you won't get bored with music for sure, you could get with constantly flipping sides of the vinyl because as soon you are comfortably settled in your chair and grab a beer or maybe coffee (like in my case for already quite some tome now) you got to stand up and change the side..

luckily we have it available also in digital form so you can listen it online and put it easily on countless repeat via bandcamp or youtube and until you buy physical version of release I strongly recommend that, you won't regret..

I'm already inpatient to see how this band will evolve and progress in the future and can't wait for some new full length material.. and just to mention for the end, if you are in Europe consider yourself lucky because we will have opportunity to watch them live this summer and I'm really looking forward for this..