Amera

Unless your musical tastes lie in smooth jazz or Tibetan singing bowls, some part of you is probably viscerally addicted to that incomparable feeling when the forces combine, the stars align and the music swells to hit that perfect climax. One mighty note goes bursting through your chest, all the lights in the building flare up as if God himself has touched down for that moment. In that space everything is possible, nothing can harm you and you feel like you could live forever. Musicians of all stripes clamour to master its power, like a magic bullet, a wonder pill. Rock n roll harnessed it from A Day in the Life to every arena rock show to this day. If any style holds the mighty climax in higher regard, it's the EDM community who have built musical shrines to its all-mighty power, leaving room for little else. All this was proceeded by classical composers wielding the full might of their orchestras to create tsunamis of sound to bowl over the unsuspecting audiences. When it hits, we all react in much the same way. Eyes closed, face pining toward the light, begging for a brief touch of the divine.

Los Angeles based Amera have found that crossroads where electronic music meets heavy rock, connecting at the pervasive mega-climax. They use whatever tools necessary to construct pins and needles builds and enormous, crushing, everything and the kitchen sink peaks. The trio of Brooke Adams (Vocals), Mikael Oganes (Synths/Keys) and Donovan Butez (Guitar) create all this with a live performance mentality with Oganes and Butez having attended prestigious musical institutions and Adams being a road-seasoned vet. Their latest self-titled EP features six tracks of meteoric crossover fervour.

The album begins with a post-metal ambience of howling wind reverb and solemn guitar as a militaristic drum inexorably builds to a massive open chord section. 'Dolphin's Flight' could easily be found on a record by a band like Russian Circles. Guitarist Donovan Butez definitely takes the lead on this one giving us some lofty solos, however, hints of synths sneak in hinting at the fusion to come. 'Shiver' cranks the pace up with a familiar drum n bass beat accompanied by lilting saxophone, prickly synths and Adams powerhouse voice. The recurring saxophone that resurfaces again on 'Cobra' provides a mischievous air of mystery. The lead single 'Connected' boasts a smouldering video of underground pyrotechnics cut with feverish club scenes. The three of them are all dialled to 10 on this groovy ode to sound.

Amera's sound his huge. They blend together the kinetic energy of drum n bass and the gigantic atmosphere of post-metal and churn it together into something fresh and bold. With their commitment to an organic form of songwriting, the songs never feel programmed or robotically played. Every track is teeming with life.