Force Fields is the meat grinder that chews through songs too weird to serve elsewhere. Comprised of many already superbands, from Grand Theft Bus to Fat Jebus to Olympic Symphonium, Force Fields has always seemed like their crazy uncle. Formerly known as The Fussy Part (known for the short-but-exquisite Ben EP under that name), Force Fields utilizes many of the unique elements that make each of their creator’s other projects so good. Their newest album, Whatever Pie, continues with this: a dark and heavy instrumental blend that received the softest release for such an anticipated album.
Outside of being incredibly mathy, the melody structures on Whatever Pie simply break the rules, all while keeping your ears hanging on with catchy melodies and rhythms. Force Fields are also one of those few bands that put to full use the occasional triple guitar threat, either triple punching harmonizing melodies or finding each their own rhythm and even time signature over one another.
Leading with a strong foot forward, the band jump in with “Zero Zero Zero,” the hard-hitting track that should have been designated as the official soundtrack for some of your life’s more epic moments. “Erase Dwarf” shares a similar melodic and trance-like vibe that still manages to take unexpected turns. As with much of the album, both tracks take the listener deep into the realm the band has created. It’s a safe space, far away from any physical surroundings, and yet anchors you to the world through violent head banging.
The band are known to lean hard into a heavier sound at times. While Whatever Pie is built on a slow crescendo, songs like “Subtle Hanky” greets you with an immediate dissonant kick in the face. Like all Force Fields songs, though, it has its moments of calm among its chaos, all tied down with one beautiful ending melody.
Each of the group’s members bring their own strength to the album. Each shine through but still remain unified to the rest of the music. It’s like they all saved their most unique and experimental work for this project. If anything, it reinforces the mantra that great art was never created from comfort.
Force Fields’ Whatever Pie is the album you’d expect to hear at the end of Saturday night at Evolve. Fortunately, you don’t need to wait for Festival Season. For those keen to catch them, they’ll be performing at The Capital December 8th, 2018.