Navigating You Through the Progressive Underground

Style: Avant-Garde Metal, Prog Metal, Avant-Garde Jazz (instrumental)
Review by: Dan
Country: US-CA
Release date: 27 April, 2021

NOTE: This album was originally included in the “Albums We Missed in 2021” Issue of The Progressive Subway

Few albums have the balls to truly stand out from the crowd and secure an indelible place on the hierarchy of bands to know, but I’d argue that Wax People have achieved one of the higher spots on my personal list. This unconventional 25-minute EP is not for the faint of heart, but is a delight that doesn’t overstay its welcome, leading the listener through an onslaught of groovy, mathy unison noodles that reward repeated listens and are tight as all fuck. 

The riffs don’t frequently repeat, and transitions can become journeys of their own – shapeshifting beasts that never quite reveal themselves, demanding your full, undivided attention. Once in a while, though, things coalesce into repetitive psychedelic hypnosis, leveraging massive dynamics for huge, swaggering payoffs. The balance between these elements is impeccable, and executed with perfect precision. The drumming stays laser focused on the goings-on, such that the eclectic rhythms drive themselves into your subconscious.

This self-titled scratches an itch I didn’t fully understand until I found myself unable to extract its indecipherable hooks from me. I’d been itching for a heavy, woodwinds-focused album, more metal than jazz, that truly connected with me deeply. I’ve finally found it.

Years ago I went to see a tour with Gorguts and Intronaut, and will never forget that the opening three-piece comprised a drummer, a bassist, and a baritone saxophone player. It was a really engaging performance with some exceptionally cool moments, but I found myself struggling to connect fully with their recordings. Something was missing, despite the fact that I so desperately wanted it to work for me – I’m a complete sucker for woodwinds in heavy music.

Wax People, by contrast, is a four-piece: bass, drums, guitar, and bass clarinet. The guitar adds that missing element, distorted and gritty, thickening the mix and adding a bit more depth to the compositions. The guitar and clarinet, in perfect unison, play mind-numbingly complex patterns and streams of notes, joined in a flawless, yet lively synchronization by the rest of the band. The grooves are heavy, and very real – this isn’t quantized to lifelessness – and the songs are fun and engaging. It’s everything I’ve hoped to find from a lineup like this. Not to mention, the cover art by Caroline Harrison is just jaw-dropping. It’s not necessarily everyone’s cup of tea, but do yourself a favor and check it out – it’s at the very least one of the most memorable releases of 2021.


Recommended tracks: All of ‘em, there’s only five
Recommended for fans of: Brain Tentacles, Merkabah, Panzerballett, Trioscapes
You may also like: Papangu, Burial in the Sky, Impure Wilhelmina
Final Verdict: 9/10

Related links: Bandcamp | Spotify | Facebook | Instagram

Label: Independent

Wax People is:
– Michael Mull (bass clarinet)
– Rajan Davis (guitar)
– Jacob Richards (drums)
– Rusty Kennedy (bass)





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