Review Summary: There is a lot to discover from the punching ‘Beehive’ to the eloquently titled ‘You’re just water with an opinion’ and the expertly timed ending to album-closer ‘Mangata’.
Heisa is a trio from Hoeselt, Belgium and describe their music as ‘verse-chorus-weird stuff’. Well put, gentlemen, well put. The band is heavily inspired by Tool but avoid the pitfall of sounding like a cheap clone, a feat few bands can accomplish. They create an atmosphere reminiscent of ‘The Patient’ but make it their own by adding effect-drunk vocals on top of magnificent rhythmic jams. The band never reaches to the extreme dynamics and grandeur of the aforementioned song/group, but opts for a lighter and more concise approach, with only one song, Beehive, just exceeding the 5-minute mark. The instrumentation and skill displayed on the album is great. Drummer Jonathan shines in the latter half of their (should-be) single ‘Bassenge’. The bassist, Jacky, elevates the rhythm section to a higher level as he strikes and amplifies the essence of the drums. Also, Jacky seemed to have taken inspiration from another tool as we hear him playing the intro to ‘Haute Cuisine’ with a screwdriver. Lastly, Koens psychedelic guitar work really shines through on record as opposed to live.
Album opener Listen/Lie starts off lightly with high-pitched, almost whispered vocals behind a typical ‘Toolesque’ verse guitar riff. The song builds on a mantra but ends rather abruptly without reaching an expected climax. However, it is enough to tickle your interest and works as an accessible introduction to what Heisa is all about, whilst leaving most of their cards for the latter half of the album.
And that is also where the album shines. On the last three songs, Heisa are finally going all-in and present a trippy journey with heavy, near-sludgy passages, whispers, off-kilter riffs, all packed in a tense atmosphere. There is a lot to discover from the punching ‘Beehive’ to the eloquently titled ‘You’re just water with an opinion’ and the expertly timed ending to album-closer ‘Mangata’.
Heisa succeeds in creating a refreshing and consistent album. Although, when the band is playing at their heaviest, it feels like there is still some headroom. Hopefully, the band will explore their heavier side in future endeavours, or they could opt for a truly experimental/psychedelic style. In any case, their first album finds a non-offensive, accessible middle ground between near-sludge riffs and an experimental/psychedelic atmosphere. For their next release, I’m hoping to hear a full-fledged 10-minute psychedelic epic laden with sludgy riffing and off-kilter drum patterns. As for now, you should check out their debut. It is worth your time!
