For any of you that might remember my review on the amazing French band,Morglbl, I have quite a treat in store for you. Gnô is a French Metal Power Trio that features the guitar wizardry of one Christophe Godin of the a-forementioned Morglbl. If ANY of you out there have not had the pleasure of hearing Christophe Godin play, my god are you in for a mind blowing experience.
Gnô are a trio that is heavily steeped in showmanship, vocal harmonies and really catchy melodies all while never dropping the heaviness ball. If you will indulge me for a minute and imagine the power of a band like Prong,coupled with the guitar prowess of a Steve Vai, with songs with huge vocal harmonies like a King's X or Galactic Cowboys and this is what you will find from the French band, Gnô. Gnô are like a twisted Prog Rock/Metal band that loves Frank Zappa and also loves a heavy groove. And guitar pyro,Christophe Godin WILL become your favorite new player! Godin just rips and tears it up from the 1st song, "Here I Stand" all the way through the entire 12 track CD, Cannibal Tango (SensoryRecords). Fans of a band like Freak Kitchen will eat this record up!
Fueled with tongue in cheek lyrics and masterful musical performance, Gnô are Gaby Vegh on bass and vocals, Julien "Peter Puke" Rousset on drums and vocals and the fretboard gymnast, Christophe Godin, who also provides vocals.Gnô are funky, jazzy and metal all on the same record and it never gets lost in the shuffle. They even manage to put all 3 elements in the SAME song at times and then add in those Beatle-esque vocals and man do you have something a little different than you've heard before. Oh and did I mention they even throw in a little Reggae shuffle in there too? A song like "In My Place"shows that Reggae beat with a catchy, metal tinged flavor and it quite simply works. You will find yourself getting the chorus stuck in your head.
These guys are cool as hell!
If Reggae isn't enough of a curveball for you, check out the off time, Middle Eastern influence of "The Keeper". And if you weren't paying attention earlier, Gnô features THREE lead vocalists, so that coupled with a heavy progressiveness, metal riffs and catchy melodies and their ability to go off the map, come back and never lose you, is a tribute to their songwriting talents.
Cannibal Tango is an opus of a record. Great songs,fantastic musicianship and one All World of a guitar player, there isn't much NOT to love about Gnô, these guys can pull off ANYTHING. As serious as the playing is, the CD has such a light hearted feel to it. Check out the CD inner sleeve photos and you will see just how silly these guys are! I hope that Christophe Godin will FINALLY begin to get the recognition that he truly deserves as an uberly talented guitar player (and he's got a KILLER guitar tone too!). I do NOT give this type of praise lightly. Godin IS that good. He's got that Vai-like wackiness; he shreds and is tasty all at the same time. I enjoyed the hell out of this CD, hope you do too!
Track Listing
- Here I Stand
- In My Place
- The Keeper
- Cannibal Tango
- Fever (The Battle Rages On)
- Hate Incarnate
- Get Out Of My Way
- Russian Girls
- Demon Disco
- Be My Pride
- Fathers & Sons
- Inner Feelings (Silence)
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