Girl at the Rock Shows

My goal of doing an album review every day this year has not been working. Honestly, life just keeps getting in the way, but that hasn’t slowed down the amount of excellent submissions I’ve been getting. I need to get a handle on these stacks upon stacks of music to check out, and although I only have a couple of hours before my shows tonight, I’m going to try and spend some time with some new music while the boyfriend cooks dinner so let’s just jump right into The Polychromatics’ latest EP ‘ In Caeru Leo.’

I love the slight sound of feedback as you enter this five-song EP’s opening track. It sets the mood and leans into a more vintage vibe that seems to be a signature move of this band. I quickly caught onto an almost threatening and severe vibe with the first couple of minutes of “Chase,” but as the song expands and you get more pieces of The Polychromatics’ sound, you realize this is so much more than a vintage-hinted track. This six-minute-long song tells a whole story and comes with a stunning amount of dynamics and power. The power most clearly comes through the vocals. They are strong and independent from everything else happening in this song, but, at the same time, they would be nothing without the instrumentation. Okay, that’s a lie, but I’m just trying to say that the instrumentation, as laid-back as it feels against the vocals, really enhances the power of the already dominant vocals.

The next track, the title track of the EP, is another lengthy one at just under five and a half minutes long. Although not typically one for songs this long, it seems like it’s the only thing that makes sense for The Polychromatics’ sound. Although it doesn’t take super long into this song for the band’s power to hit, the anticipation makes this one of those long songs where you can’t miss a single second. The band’s power in “In Caeru Leo” is a bit more in-your-face and straightforward than how it’s laid out in “Chase,” but there’s still this slight air of eeriness and haunt behind this song. Electronic sounds are scattered throughout this song, adding an almost other-worldly element, which I found super unique and perfect for such a creative band. Another thing I really like about this song is the bass line. I’m not going to tell you where or why the bass stood out to me because I think it would be super easy to find it upon first listen, but I will say that my head was spinning by the time this track was done just from trying to follow said bass line.

From epic long songs to the short “Gossamer” (which is only a minute and a half long), it’s clear that The Polychromatics can do a little bit of everything. This little interlude of a track is absolutely gorgeous. It’s a delicate instrumental piece that features a plucked guitar and even a symphonic string sound. Behind it all is the slight rumble of what sounds like spoken word poetry. I could be wrong on that, and it could be something completely different, but that doesn’t affect how the layers of this quick track wash over you like beautifully elegant waves.

After the “Gossamer” break, the band comes back into their full power with “Highway,” but, again, the power takes a different form. This song is more playful than the first two tracks. You can hear a play with the electronic sounds that popped in and out throughout “In Caeru Leo,” but also a playful tone that seems to sweep over the vocals. The song almost feels commercial compared to the previous tracks on this album, which definitely caught me a bit off guard, but it didn’t take long for me to settle into it. It’s a catchy and infectious little bop that gets the blood pumping and makes you want to move. Although this song is definitely a bit out of left field compared to the first two, it was an instant favorite of mine, and it quickly found a place in my daily playlist.

This far-too-short and oh-so-intriguing EP ends with “In Lucem.” This track brings back that slightly eerie vibe from the first couple of songs and perfectly blends it into the more commercial-leaning vibe of “Highway” so perfectly. This is the song to check out if you’re hesitant or short on time when it comes to checking out The Polychromatics. It will absolutely satisfy your thirst for something new and fresh but also leave so many questions in your head, leading you to inevitably check out this entire release and then some.

Looking for more from The Polychromatics? Have no fear– there’s more out there! I even interviewed them in January of 2023 (you can check out that interview HERE!). The Polychromatics are a band that puts thought into everything they do and, therefore, puts out pure gold every time. I don’t know how they found me years ago, but I’m beyond thankful that they reached out years ago and that they continue to tell me about their amazing new music, like ‘In Caeru Leo. ‘

The Polychromatics on Instagram

The Polychromatics on Facebook

The Polychromatics on YouTube

The Polychromatics on TikTok

Shameless Self Promotion:

Join My Patreon Here!

Buy Me a Coffee (Seriously!)

Check out my playlist HERE!