Upcdowncleftcrightcabc+start - Firewolf

When I heard that Upcdowncleftcrightcabc+start (name that comes from a cheat code on the very first Sonic video game on Sega Megadrive) was releasing a new album, I was excited but not impatient. Here's the thing: when I like some band's music formula, it usually only works twice for me. Both with their first full-length 'And the battle is won' and its follower 'Embers', they satisfied post-rock fans with the same brilliant and emotional build-ups and crescendos that established them as one of the best new acts around in their category. But I was scared it wouldn't work a third time with 'Firewolf', the band's new album.

The cover is not in contradiction with this premonition as it's basically a mix (a cliche but cute one, though) between 'And the battle is won' and 'Embers' artworks. After a very bouncing but unoriginal short intro comes the track 'Black lodge'. A slow but thumping pace, chugging riffs, this is not post-rock as we know it... Indeed it's very rock and loud, with guitar distortion and vocals reminding Oceansize. But how surprised I am when after soaring guitars come heavy riffs accompanied by intense screaming. Woah, that was unexpected! Upcdownc now have screams. Not only on this song, they're doing it again on the epic and less than two-minute long 'Agent Cooper'. Mind you, it's not Envy's screams, but it's well-executed and the suprise effect makes them very enjoyable. However, the British four-piece still takes time to create atmospheres, which are here quite dark, and most of the album is instrumental. There are songs without any vocals too, as the oppressive 'Def Zeppelin' or 'Smiling bag', but they fail building up something substantial and are unfortunately dull. How surprising as it may be, the best moments off 'Firewolf' are the angriest and heaviest ones. The title track is especially great in my opinion, managing to install something particular between the band's offering and the listener. The record ends on an acoustic take and stops under the 30-minute mark.

With the overall length of a punk-rock album and its completely different musical horizon, we could wonder if it's still legitimate to call Upcdownc post-rock. But who cares? What's important is that the band has had the audacity to break its own chains in a very closed genre. 'Firewolf' isn't incredible, it seems less inspired than its predecessors to me, but is noteworthy by its unpredictability and its strong rock influence. Maybe their least creative, but definitely their heaviest.

3.5/5

Recommanded if you like:
Oceansize, Envy, Pelican
Check also:
We're From Japan!, Omega Massif, The Seven Mile Journey

www.myspace.com/upcdownc
(Self-released, 2009)