COLONEL PETROV'S GOOD JUDGEMENT

Named after the Soviet Air Defense Forces military dude who saved the world from nuclear war run amok in 1983 when he detected the US launch of missiles was due to a computer malfunction, this Cologne, Germany based band has made its own wise judgements but crafting a unique style of progressive sludge metal mixed with jazz and psychedelia. Having formed back in 2008, COLONEL PETROV'S GOOD JUDGMENT didn't see the release of its debut "Moral Machine" until 2016 but quickly electrified the progressive metal community with its wild experimental barrage of heavy guitar riffs, assailing syncopation and percussive plentitude with not one but two drummers pummeling their kits erratically. Add some sultry sax squawking and it was clear from the getgo that the good COLONEL stood out in a flooded metal scene like a floating goat on a raft traversing a raging torrent.

The band returned in 2018 to unleash its sophomore unit "Among Servants" only with one less drummer but focused on knottier progressive workouts that incorporated the world of avant-prog with ambitious angularities and darkened all-instrumental soundscapes that offered djent-ish distortion with technical precision in the vein of Animals With Leaders, Liquid Tension Experiment and other similarly minded nerdy musical outfits. Hot off the press so to speak, COLONEL PETROV'S GOOD JUDGMENT saves the day with its third innovative release HYPOMANIAC which features eight crazy tracks that alchemize sludgy metal riffs with sensual saxophone squawks, post-rock cyclical looping and twisted moments of avant-prog splendor. Sensibly keeping the album a traditional vinyl's length of fine experimental metal-based musical workouts, HYPOMANIAC just misses the 41-minute mark and in its run features a sonic realm that is part sludge metal on the stoner metal side of the equation with jazzy overtones and electronic supplemental effects.

This is one of those bands that allows the musicians to meander in their own trajectory yet weave all those approaches into a greater sum of the parts. The current lineup is Sebastian Müller on guitar, Leonard Huhn on sax and electronic effects, Reza Askari on bass and Rafael Calmam as the sole drummer. The music can be both aggressive and freakishly glacial simultaneously. Bantering bass grooves play with strange chilled contrapuntal saxophone motifs while the drumming exhibits an oft indirect punctuated contrapuntal effect. While the guitar generally drifts on lower register bass mode, occasionally it soars into freakishly psycho-jazz soloing most pronounced on "Violent Meditator" which is perfectly named as it embraces both a sense of psychedelic detachment as well as razor-sharp focus in terms of technical prowess, a balancing act that would seem impossible o achieve but effortless displayed by the good COLONEL's posse of four musical characters.

COLONEL PETROV'S GOOD JUDGMENT still lurks in the metal underground with its unorthodox methodology of bridging the world of skronky avant-jazz with the atonal and angularness of progressive sludge metal. With no vocals to be heard, the good COLONEL relies on crafting moody atmospheres accompanied by proggy sludge metal attacks in mortal combat with sax attacks that freakishly take on tones and timbres beyond the instrument's expected limitations. Overall this is a wild ride which is the whole point. To save the world from a nuclear attack requires balls of steel for quick clear-headed decision making and the good COLONEL demonstrates that masterful talent in full abundance. This would be considered difficult listening music by many for it excels in contrasting contrapuntal mind[%*!#]ery, however it will please the panheads who crave torturous soundscapes fortified with virtuosic workouts that span the range from heady psychedelic otherworldliness to calculated noisy avant-metal with jazzy dance partners. Excellent in every sense of the word.

— First review of this album —

As a seasoned metal enthusiast who has witnessed the evolution of the genre from its inception with iconic bands like Black Sabbath, through the emergence of the NWOBHM, the vibrant fusion of speed metal and punk in the 1980s, and the subsequent rise of progressive metal, the decades have brought both immense pleasure and moments of stagnation to the metal landscape. Navigating through the vast sea of imitations and unapologetic mimicry has become a daunting task, making it increasingly rare to discover artists carving out their unique creative space within the metal paradigm, free from redundant clichés. However, the diligent fan willing to sift through the masses may stumble upon a creative gem like Köln, Germany's COLONEL PETROV'S GOOD JUDGEMENT, whose sophomore release, Among Servants, marks a significant leap in creativity from their sludgy debut, Moral Machine.

While undeniably rooted in metal, this album boldly ventures into experimental territory, presenting a dark and dystopian fusion of organized anarchy. The instrumentation immediately stands out, driven by the inclusion of well-placed saxophone parts skillfully played by vocalist Leonhard Huhn. The second track, Resistor, features a wild and rangy sax solo that breaks away from the song's initial hardcore punk-sounding intro. Sebastian Müller's guitar tones defy the ubiquitous "djent" delivery prevalent in much of today's metal, incorporating a diverse range of influences from punky overdriven power chords to RIO-ish atonal chord structures and heavily reverbed psychedelia.

The band's experimental prowess extends to various rhythmic devices uncommon in metal, notably showcased in the instrumental piece Ascension. This track unfolds with a drunkish slow-to-fast progression, textured by minimalist guitar and bass phrasing, accompanied by eerie ambient saxophone reverb backgrounds. Additional delirium-laced passages emerge in songs like Bad Shepherd (featuring vocals from Valborg and OWL's Christian Kolf), characterized by a descending chromatic run emanating from a droning chant intro. Among Servants continuously shifts between the familiar and an endless pool of the unorthodox, embracing unrepentant experimentation. The album's lyrical themes delve into political and psycho-social subjects, adding depth to the sonic exploration.

This album stands as a formidable choice for those seeking a departure from the conventional. While it may not claim the title of a masterpiece, Among Servants confidently treads the path towards it. It's an album destined to find a lasting place in my playlist, and I eagerly anticipate COLONEL PETROV'S GOOD JUDGEMENT's continued creative exploration along this captivating trajectory.