HEYLEL: "Flesh"

Rating: EP
Label: Prescriptionpr/Indie 2015
Review by: Urban "Wally" Wallstrom

Now it's mostly autumn...pun intended. Recorded and mixed in Caverna at Lucifer's Studio, the devilish sound of Portuguese band Heylel show a more raw and direct approach to the similar work of Mostly Autumn, and various other Goth inspired female fronted acts. Formed in 2012, the band consisting of vocalist Ana Batista, Narciso Monteiro (guitars/keys) and Felipe Braga (drums) describe themselves as an alternative progressive rock band with a gothic twist.

I can say that I noticed much of their Progressive Rock side on their second effort "Flesh". There's no experimental lust whatsoever and the arrangements are straight forward guitar rock with a dark agenda and style. They admit to ditching their previous sound, which included covers by King Crimson and Emerson Lake & Palmer, rather relying more on guitars and alternative rock with little substance or charm.

There's something grumpily restless within the walls of Flesh and clearly not enough of meat to have us asking for seconds. The complex and slightly disturbing blend of guitar twitches and awkward songwriting (Paranoid Hysteria goes straight to the bin) is unlikely to see them at the top of the hill or bill for that matter. In fact. There's hardly anything on their 5-track EP that makes you want to reach for the repeat button. Good musicians. Nice singer. Back to the drawing board.
www.heylel.net