A massive new single release from Rufus Party takes elements of classic, psych, math, and progressive rock, and rolls them all up into this one massive and, sort of vast track that spans almost 15 minutes long. Technically, it almost puts together about three songs into one.
"The Stone of Madness" features so many outstanding changes not only in terms of the guitar progressions but also in time signatures, arrangement, and even composition and tonality at times.
This track has insane guitar work all over it and it's amazing how these guys put such a lengthy track together with so many outstanding changeups and surprises around the corners.
The drumming on this record, or track I should say, is ridiculous. The drummer definitely keeps this whole thing together but also gives it this amazing drive while giving off a semi-rambunctious but super tight performance throughout the whole thing.
This is the kind of track you get engulfed and wrapped up in quickly. It doesn't quite let you go because there are so many great changes in there and it's got these amazing waves of intensity which rise and fall so the song feels alive and breathing in its own way.
I love this aspect of it too because it relates to the energy level of the band being so electric and in the moment.
It feels like this whole thing was recorded live on the floor. Everyone in it is just feeding off each other's energies and watching each other for those changes and it all comes together perfectly.
Now, of course, I wasn't there so I don't actually know if it was recorded live on the floor, but it sure feels that way when you listen to it.
Listening to this track makes you want to see them perform it live either way because if it's captured this well on record, then seeing it live must be awesome.
It's got those bouts of semi-heaviness where the guitars go a little bit crunchier and more distorted giving the song a little bit extra drive and a little bit of extra edge and I think those are more the rise and intensity moments, but it all has a forward-moving flow that feels kind of natural.
This was outstanding also because there are so many elements of rock subgenres all embedded in the veins of this one song, and you also get those great math-style riffs throughout it that you kind of have to go back and listen to again.
The bass line is thick but walks a lot and doesn't just serve as a backbone but also jams in and adds to the liveliness and vivaciousness of the track itself.
I can't really express how much this is not just one genre. How progressive it actually turns out to be the more defining staple of the song's nature and that in itself, is awesome.
The vocals are done in a 90s underground indie rock sort of way, and I dig that too because I grew up listening to a lot of that stuff but, it's such a great mix and balance energy-wise and dynamically with the music itself.
Each element of this release pushes the next. Each instrument and player have an effect on the other.
Again, this is part of why I feel like this was recorded live on the floor.
I can't understand any other way that these guys could pull this off so well with such a flow.
After you're done listening to the song you sort of have to snap yourself back into reality again.
It turns out to be a bit of an escape. It pulls you away from your surroundings and puts you in a different place for about 15 minutes.
You get hints of jazz undertones along with all the rock backbone and there's just something addictive about how it all unfolds.
I feel like there was a lot of attention to detail in terms of the progression and arrangement of this song but, I also feel like there was a certain kind of looseness in its performance that gives it that extra robust and full-bodied approach.
This was a very cool song and a bit unlike something I've heard before simply because it's got so much going on and so many change-throughs but in the end, it's all confluent and makes perfect sense.
Definitely check this track out with headphones on so you can really soak everything in.
Remember where you heard it first.
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