SYSTEM FAILURE review - Meteoric Success
(Reviewed by Melody Werner)
System Failure is a 2020 cyberpunk synthrock album by P&F's beloved Meteor. Meteor is a project run by Colombian punk rocker and graphic designer, Jorge Reyes, ever since 2015. If you read Popcorn & Fizz much (lol), you're already familiar with how we like to gush about his work here (I myself have given him two 10/10's). His latest album dropped a few weeks ago, though I missed it at first and swooped back in for it when I saw one of its singles posted to the Meteor YouTube channel. While synth has seen something of a resurgence in the decade past thanks to outlets like NewRetroWave, it still is nowhere near the mainstream, so something like Meteor is sadly niche. Which is a shame, considering how consistently wonderful Meteor records are. I can't say there's been a full-length album from this guy yet that I didn't fall head over heels for. So coming into System Failure, I've got high expectations. How do you follow up Para||el Lives and White Crows--two albums I view as damn near flawless? Well, I had a good feeling going in--this album is alllllll my shit, what with the badass album art (by Jorge) depicting this cyberpunk lady with a molotov and it being called "System Failure." Because, you know, our current economic system is an immense failure, so it's got a clever dual meaning. So, how'd this thing turn out? 👑
From the moment go, this album already starts shredding. "Slaves and Loyals" is a bona fide Meteor banger--with all the cathartic guitar blasting and propulsive synths. And yet, it's distinct--more aggressive than outings such as "Destroyer" or "Overload." From then on, the album effortlessly flows into weirder and groovier territory--yet it always keeps that signature Meteor flair and is one helluva ride throughout. The guy's been in rock for decades at this point, so it makes sense that he'd kick ass with his commanding guitar riffs, which cut through the synths like butter--yet his synths are equally on par. These synths show his variable skill, journeying from jazzy to whimsical to pulse-pounding. This album has such a palpable atmosphere of triumph to it, but has its quieter moments too. Nothing so serene as with "White Crows" (the song, not the album), though I'm not actually sure if you can build a better White Crows. And I'm glad that Meteor didn't rest on his laurels with this one. System Failure's unlike any other record of his that I've heard, yet hits the spot just like Para||el Lives and White Crows always have. It's a lil shorter than both of those, but feels built out and doesn't overstay its welcome.
System Failure meets my expectations for a Meteor release. Does it go above them, though? Honestly, no, but that's because I have such absurd expectations when coming to a new Meteor record--higher than I'd have for any other musician, or musical group for that matter. It's unique, it's weird, it's terrific--go give it a bash if I've done my job right in communicating how awesome SF is. System Failure gets a 10/10, which is a hat trick for Meteor, innit?
Masterful
Summary:
A fresh expansion of what the "Meteor sound" is, which is astoundingly eclectic and exhilarating.
System Failure is a 2020 cyberpunk synthrock album by P&F's beloved Meteor. Meteor is a project run by Colombian punk rocker and graphic designer, Jorge Reyes, ever since 2015. If you read Popcorn & Fizz much (lol), you're already familiar with how we like to gush about his work here (I myself have given him two 10/10's). His latest album dropped a few weeks ago, though I missed it at first and swooped back in for it when I saw one of its singles posted to the Meteor YouTube channel. While synth has seen something of a resurgence in the decade past thanks to outlets like NewRetroWave, it still is nowhere near the mainstream, so something like Meteor is sadly niche. Which is a shame, considering how consistently wonderful Meteor records are. I can't say there's been a full-length album from this guy yet that I didn't fall head over heels for. So coming into System Failure, I've got high expectations. How do you follow up Para||el Lives and White Crows--two albums I view as damn near flawless? Well, I had a good feeling going in--this album is alllllll my shit, what with the badass album art (by Jorge) depicting this cyberpunk lady with a molotov and it being called "System Failure." Because, you know, our current economic system is an immense failure, so it's got a clever dual meaning. So, how'd this thing turn out? 👑
From the moment go, this album already starts shredding. "Slaves and Loyals" is a bona fide Meteor banger--with all the cathartic guitar blasting and propulsive synths. And yet, it's distinct--more aggressive than outings such as "Destroyer" or "Overload." From then on, the album effortlessly flows into weirder and groovier territory--yet it always keeps that signature Meteor flair and is one helluva ride throughout. The guy's been in rock for decades at this point, so it makes sense that he'd kick ass with his commanding guitar riffs, which cut through the synths like butter--yet his synths are equally on par. These synths show his variable skill, journeying from jazzy to whimsical to pulse-pounding. This album has such a palpable atmosphere of triumph to it, but has its quieter moments too. Nothing so serene as with "White Crows" (the song, not the album), though I'm not actually sure if you can build a better White Crows. And I'm glad that Meteor didn't rest on his laurels with this one. System Failure's unlike any other record of his that I've heard, yet hits the spot just like Para||el Lives and White Crows always have. It's a lil shorter than both of those, but feels built out and doesn't overstay its welcome.
System Failure meets my expectations for a Meteor release. Does it go above them, though? Honestly, no, but that's because I have such absurd expectations when coming to a new Meteor record--higher than I'd have for any other musician, or musical group for that matter. It's unique, it's weird, it's terrific--go give it a bash if I've done my job right in communicating how awesome SF is. System Failure gets a 10/10, which is a hat trick for Meteor, innit?
Masterful
Summary:
A fresh expansion of what the "Meteor sound" is, which is astoundingly eclectic and exhilarating.
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