IZAMANYA – Next (2022)
With their album Next, IZAMANYA unleashes a new flurry of metal and alternative rock tones into our ears. Across the four tracks of the album, they bring a heavy blend of pushing metal, soaring classic rock and a sprinkling of classical sounds. Sure to get you bouncing off the walls and rocking out, the album is one that you will want to blare at top volume.
The band’s third album, it follows their successful tour through Switzerland in 2019 and offers a showcase of their talents before their next release. Iza Loosli (vocals), Many Maurer (guitar, bass), Remo Cadalbert (guitars) and Peter Haas (drums) pool their talents for the expressive and distinct character of the band’s sound. With a wealth of experience between them, they play off each other’s strengths for a rocking sound that vibrates through your bones.
The album opens with ‘Back to Life’ which draws you in with Loosli’s vocals, before the pulsing power of the guitars hits you. There is a punch of energy in the music that is picked up by the light growl of her vocals. From the first note, the track is packed with expressive power, from the guitars to the vocals. As the rock tones of the song vibrate electric energy into your veins, the lyrics fill you with an intense feeling of empowerment. The harmonisations on the chorus are quite light, but add an extra burst to the flow of the song. It is a fantastic opening to the album and really sets the tone for what is to come. As you rock out to the energy of the music, you feel an eagerness for the pulse of the rest of the tracks.
‘I Still Believe’ has a more grounded opening that rises with energy that leads you to a cliff’s edge and drops. The drums fill the melody for the start of the verse, with the guitars slowly clawing their way into the soundscape. Loosli’s vocals draw you into the wonderfully descriptive lyrics that shine with storytelling prowess. There is a different kind of energy to this track that pulses into your veins with a more subtle flow, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t as addictive as the opening. The flow of the melody allows the vocals to shine with the power of believing in something more than yourself. On the chorus, the rise of the vocals will have you yelling out your belief with the band. The guitar riffs that come in later shake up your senses and get you utterly lost in the sound.
The guitars of ‘Speed’ progressively call to you from the distance. Through the pulses of the guitars, you are left vibrating with energy that has no means of escape. The vocals fly out against the guitars with a really melodic movement that borders soft for all its metal grittiness. There is a much deeper message resting in this track that is just waiting for you to find it. The energy that fills your senses through the pumping guitars continues to build, forcing you to bounce off the walls and rock out to the sound. Some of the bound energy bursts out to soar into the stratosphere, with the vocals on the chorus providing you with this utterly blissful release. At times, there is a dynamic movement to the single that keeps you hooked to the sound.
The album comes to a close with ‘Beam Me Over’ which has a much softer feeling to the opening compared to the rest of the track. There is an almost acoustic feeling to the melody while Loosli’s vocals have a tender balladic vibe. Through the lyrics, she lets you know that you are not alone and that there are people who will be there for you no matter what. As the single progresses, this turns into a plea for reciprocation and the need to be with someone you care about. The soft flow of the song is a wonderful contrast to the packed energy of the rest of the album and really showcases the versatility of the band.
Across the tracks of Next, IZAMANYA pumps vibrating energy into your veins while showcasing the versatility of their musicality. Each track has a different feeling, from bouncing off the walls energy, to tender yearning, accompanied by delicate rock guitars. From the first note of the opening track to the last tender touch of the album, the band has you hooked to their sound.
Find out more about IZAMANYA on their website, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Spotify.
