Album review by Seraphim Dibble, Images provided by Makari
As genres, alternative, emo, indie, and pop punk all share a lot of qualities. Both have evolved greatly throughout the years, borrowing from each other and other genres. Many times, it is hard to tell the genres apart as bands flit between the two effortlessly or just flat-out belong to both. Makari is releasing their latest contribution to the genre on August 3rd, 2018. The new album, Hyperreal, is ten tracks long, and strives to leave an impression with the audience.
The first track, “Better”, opens with a catchy, upbeat riff. Within seconds, Andy Cizek’s melodic voice begins to flow along with the drums and rest of the song. “Better” is a firm and reliable entry into the world of alternative rock. It offers aural callbacks to the early 2000’s, when the scene was flooded by new bands looking to test their mettle. That isn’t to say that Makari sounds outdated or old by any means. “The Jar” manages to sound like Taking Back Sunday, for example, while also retaining its own unique identity. The song is at once a softer piece overall, yet retains a kind of youthful, exuberant energy throughout. This kinda continues through “Transient”. Both songs combine softer guitar and vocal sections with the energy of the rest of the album. “Transient” does take it a step further, though, with sections where the guitars take on an ambient, almost dream-like quality.
“Fractals” features faster riffs and sounds that sound more akin to the post-hardcore movement than anything else. That isn’t a bad thing. It lends the song a slightly ethereal feel and sets it apart from other songs quite clearly. The choice to follow that up with the dreamy intro of “Hyperreal” was a good one. The two songs fit together like a pair of building blocks. The speed and energy of “Fractals” slows into the almost trance-like state of “Hyperreal” with poise. That gives the song a very otherworldly feel. At this point, it should come as no surprise that “Seasons” has its own unique sound. After all, Makari weaves in and out of different sounds and subgenres quite fluidly. Their ability to craft unique songs that all have similar identities is not to be underestimated.
For example, “No Longer” opens with a soft and melodic intro paired with echoing, melodic vocals. While much of the album features similar guitars and songs, it manages to set itself apart in sound so that it doesn’t feel like the same song at all. It morphs into a rambunctious song with fantastic drumwork and fast riffs. “Hollow”, on the other hand, is almost acoustic at points. Both songs swell in volume and intensity, but “Hollow” feels more like a ballad. The guitars in “Dashboard”, while the vocals do become more intense, retain a spacey kind of feel throughout. The closing song, “Control”, takes us back to the sound of the opening album. It has a lot in common with the pop punk, emo, and alternative movements of the early 2000’s. At one point, it fades out to a distant-sounding bridge into the final intense outro of the album.
Makari was founded in 2012 in Orlando. Over the last six years, it is clear they’ve refined their sound into something wonderful. They have taken their genres to the next level with the release of Hyperreal, which is out this Friday. Make sure you pre-order it today, or purchase it once its released! Get it here! This is not a release you want to miss!
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