Sprawling, spacious, and experimental without feeling self-conscious,
Philm make their debut on the aptly titled
Harmonic. Featuring the talents of musicians' musicians Dave Lombardo (
Slayer,
Fantômas), Gerry Nestler (Civil Defiance), and Pancho Tomaselli (
War), the album finds the members of the experimental power trio flexing their creative muscles to create a fusion sound that draws from all of their past work as a starting point before heading off on a musical excursion that feels like it's actively trying to defy categorization at every pass. It's got a groove, but isn't funk, it's heavy, but isn't metal, and it's experimental, but feels too organic to really call prog rock. While the exact nomenclature might be hard to nail down, what's abundantly clear is the sense of freedom found on the album. The songs here feel like they were written without constraints or a map, but where most bands in a similar situation would either become repetitive or aimless, the collection of talent in
Philm allows these guys to just head out into open musical spaces without a plan or a safety net. While fans of these musicians' individual projects might not find what they expect on the album,
Harmonic will reward anyone brave enough to wade into unfamiliar waters to discover something they probably haven't heard anywhere else. ~ Gregory Heaney