Following the release of their debut single “Lights in the Woods” back in December, “Gashadokuro” finds Atlanta quartet Fantomen sharpening their melodic hard rock into something more angular and propulsive. It’s not so much a case of the band seeking out new sounds as it is them working out the kinks and tightening up their songwriting, which stresses the dichotomy of melody and combustive guitars. As the song progresses, you can hear that polarity come into relief as the band swaps gears between roaring, full-throttle passages and the multiple off-kilter riffs that frame frontman John Lindsey’s throaty falsetto. Rather than battering the listener with a barrage of constant aggression, the group breaks up their attack into varying degrees of urgency, and that bit of nuance helps shape the track into something more fully satisfying.
As an aside, if you’re wondering if there’s some sort of mythology behind the title, you won’t be disappointed. The name is derived from Japanese legend and refers to spirits that take the shape of giant skeletons and attack travelers in order to consume their blood (the literal translation is “starving skeleton,” so make of that what you will). Lyrically, it veers dangerously close to goofy comic book caricature—all blood, bones, and graves—but Fantomen’s unwavering energy helps provide safe passage through the track’s savage underbelly.
Listen below.
Fantomen will perform on Fri., June 1 at Star Bar alongside the Buzzards of Fuzz (EP Release Show), Flashback Flash, and Twin Criminal. Doors open at 9 p.m. Admission is $15. 21+ to enter.
More Info
Bandcamp: fantomenmusik.bandcamp.com
Facebook: @FantomenMusik
Instagram: @fantomenmusik