Felix Champion has just returned from a long hiatus recently and has added David Ree’s to their ranks on guitar and vocals.
Recently, they have released ‘New York Minute’, the title track of their forthcoming EP.
Felix Champion don’t show any mercy here and when a one bar drum interlude plunges you into cascade of brutal riffs, pounding drums and screaming vocals.
While still recovering from the shell shock of such a initial assault we are lead into a section that gives us a little space to regain our composure where the screaming steps aside to let way for more gentle singing.
Felix Champion have clearly been working hard to make a good first impression and it hasn’t been in vain either, what makes Felix Champion stand out from the rest is that all members in this outfit take it in turns to sing and in turn this blend of four vocal characters makes a incredible hook throughout, team this up with intricate guitar work and unrelenting drum beats we have a very strong introduction indeed.
We are then led into the softest part of the track which utilizes their four vocalists by using harmonies to compliment the lead vocals, it is nice to see this section well executed as blending family friendly “Woooooo” style vocals can be a risky business but is pulled off masterfully.
A fourth short and snappy section then leads back into previous sections of the track, which is repeated until we reach the outro.
In this final section we see a slight direction change and there is more of a push from the lead guitar to create a epic soundscape and is littered with sections that break into and out of it of the original outro.
From start to finish ‘New York Minute’ is an incredible blend of perfectly fitting fast interlocking sections that each provide us with a new experience and hook making you wish that the previous section had carried on for a few more bars.
If future releases live up to this impressive entry then Felix Champion will be a name on everyone’s lips.
Words: Euan Coe
