Joviac – Autofiction Pt. 1 – Shards

Finland has produced many great metal bands and one of the lesser known is now sticking its head over the parapet. It’s not for the first time though, as Tampere based progressive metal group Joviac have a third album set for release. With a title of “Autofiction Pt. 1 – Shards” it was released on the 16^th of May on Inverse Records.

Unusually the first two of the nine tracks on this album are instrumental, but most of the rest aren’t. The first of these, aptly named ‘Level 1’ is like an excellent jam session. It’s almost as if the band are limbering up for what is to come. A great starter nevertheless which is followed by the shorter and more laid back ‘Haven’. So, two tracks to get you in the mood that showcase the musical talent in this band.

The next four tracks have all been released as singles. The first of these is ‘B.O.M.B.’ which brings out the poppy side of the band. Once it gets going it has a catchy rhythm and chorus with some electronic elements. So far that’s three completely different tracks and watch this space. In the meantime, you can watch and listen for yourselves.

Slipping into progressive metal mode, ‘Burn’ dishes up 9+ minutes of variety which in places remind me of Haken or Novena. Gruff vocals make their first appearance in this multi-faceted song. It has a bit of everything really and is one of my favourite tracks on the album.

The softer tones of ‘Canvas’ make it the closest in style to a ballad. The complexity seen elsewhere in the album is absent and is replaced by what can only be described as easy listening. It seems that this band is not afraid to mix it up when it comes to songwriting.

The melody continues with ‘Shine’, but with a more complex rhythm and structure. Despite that it’s catchy and dare I say it, in parts, danceable. This diversity keeps the album fresh and interesting.

Track 7 is titled ‘Level 7’ and is another instrumental. All the members of the band play an instrument. Vocalist Viljami Jupiter Wenttola also plays guitar so is never left out. Instead, he joins forces with their other guitarist Johannes Leipäläi to create extra depth to the mix. The guitar sound is dirty and gritty and initially staccato in nature before moving into a smoother faster rhythm.

To round of this listening experience there is the shortest track and the longest one. ‘Open Eyes and Mind’ is under 2 minutes long and features zero musical instruments, just vocals. The lyrics consist of five lines drawn out slowly over the span of the song with some atmospheric harmonies. These guys certainly like to be diverse.

Last and – no prizes for guessing – longest, is the 11-minute epic ‘Once’. I get hints of early Queensryche, classic Queen and others that I can’t quite pinpoint as it moves through multiple sections. It’s definitely one the standout tracks and a great one to finish on. So, a strong start and finish with plenty of variety in-between.

This band have an ambition, which is to push their brand of progressive rock/metal into the big leagues. I think they have what it takes to achieve that, although there is some serious competition out there. Hopefully this album will get them a little closer to their aspirations. Another band to watch out for, me thinks. Could that be in the form of ‘Autofiction Pt. 2’ perhaps?

Track-list:

1. Level 1
2. Haven
3. O.M.B.
4. Burn
5. Canvas
6. Shine
7. Level 7
8. Open Eyes and Mind
9. Once