Hailing from Rennes, France power trio ‘Janis Madison’ has spent the pandemic keeping themselves busy. With a 100% D.I.Y. attitude they crowdfunded an 8 track EP (two of the tracks War and ‘Rape’ are really just intros) and spent a little extra they received on production. It was a wise move.
If you like your Rock off the wall then there’s plenty in this small unfamiliar package. Intro track ‘War’ is a montage of sounds including sirens and a baby crying before the furious pace of the punky ‘Cartoons Coaster’ really kicks things off with a driving riff and lush melodies in the refrain. ‘Tie Me Like a Snake’ that follows has Grungy leanings juxtaposed again by gentle melodies that here act as counterpoint rather than drive the song, It’s an interesting set of songs that are made all the more intriguing by a mixture of languages in the lyrics.
The pairing of the gentle guitar-picked intro ‘Rape’ and the lengthy ‘…And Revenge’ which would border Thrash and Punk were the guitars less tuneful is another interesting combination that at times is like a Garagey Motorhead at the most hellbent.
The languid guitar that opens ‘Greatest Cowboy Part 1.’ could be Scorpions or any hard rocker from the 80’s attempting to cash in on that languid yearning Cowboy song. I love it, even if it is rather a jump – replete as it is with great guitar and soft vocals. The even longer ‘Greatest Cowboy Part 2.’ which follows and is a whole minute longer than its predecessor is the stomping riposte and beautifully structured making a rather nice single ‘piece’ of music. It’s compelling stuff.
‘Hagar’ the closer interestingly appears as a fully formed Metallica Black album-like romp to lead the way home in style.
If you like variety these guys have it, there’s some wonderful imagination at play here and an overall sound that makes you think of bands like Stone Temple Pilots at times. Remarkably original and well worth pursuing. Janis Madison sure know how to make a righteous noise with just bass, drums, guitar and voice.