Another strong entry into the New Zealand Alternative Rock scene from the lads over at Mezucine, with their newest full album release Wait Until It’s Finished. There are many layers and as much noise usually reserved for full bands with orchestral backing, coming from just two brothers, Tony and Joseph Johns.
Now, let us dive straight into what I feel to be the stand out songs in this release.
The opening track, Red Umbrella, wastes no time and starts with a powerful and crunchy guitar riff that sets the tone of things to come. You are made aware that this is a song of resilience and pure, unfiltered emotion, made very clear through the vocal work of Tony. The tension builds through the verses and releases into the choruses with a burst of life and colour, enough to take the listener on a ride through their waves of sound. This song is a promise of things to come through-out and a very strong start to the album.
Digital Confusion, the fifth and middle song, is a stripped back and thoughtful approach to the very personal poetry of the brothers souls. The song starts with a slow build of stringed instruments and leads into an emotional and brave vocal melody from Tony. We cannot help but feel that he is laying out his heart to be examined by all. As we move through this piece the rolling bass drums add a thickness and punctuation, breaking into the arrangement as if to say, “Do not be fooled, this is no quiet heart.”
Song number 9 Child is a real stand out track on the album. Opening with a heavy, chugging bass line and an unrelenting build into a powerful finish where the Johns brothers come together to deliver what could easily be a single, if not a radio hit.
Overall, this is an example of haunting and tragic poetry with atmospheric songs of love and loss backed by, at times, frenetic music accompaniment. I can’t help but feel the poetry is at the foundation of this album with the music built around that core.
I personally feel a contrast of soft appreciation for beauty with the frustrations of missed opportunity and self-doubt and I am left with the final impression that this is an honest and vulnerable look into the artists soul, a soul that holds inside itself a mirror to our own reflecting insecurities and heartbreaks.
Superb recording quality overall great polish and effort from the lads.
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About the author David Catford
Well, hello there. My name is David James Catford, don’t let the posh name fool you, I am no fancy pants. Really all that needs to be said about me is that I am first a fan of music and live events, it is my true passion in life, I would not be who I am without them. I have near limitless energy and love for music, love a good laugh and take pride in building people up to do better. So yea, let’s get stuck in then… “For the love of the game.”
