Review
22 – FLUX
Released 6th August 2012 (Best Before)
Words: Tom Willmott
It’s quite easy to depict Norway as a country that can only provide black and death metal as far as musical offerings are concerned. But now and then, there’s an act that will come along to refute those claims, as is the case with 22. After a couple of EP’s and a year’s touring to boot, their debut has landed – and shows them breathing new life into the rock spectrum.
On the surface, their approach shares some similarities to Panic At The Disco’s debut but dig a little deeper and there is plenty of artistic merit to be found here. Influences range from progressive to pop rock, and comparisons with The Mars Volta and Muse are certainly plausible. Tracks such as “Plastik” and “Oxygen” showcase their technical side to their best ability, whereas “I Am What I Am” and “Kneel Estate” are accessible enough to gain themselves a position in the charts. Having said that, the album somehow lacks a stand out number that soars above the rest. However, this is just a minor gripe.
It will be interesting to see how 22 follow this up but for now it is a refreshing addition to a genre that has been lacking in ideas for some time.
