Synchromysticism by Yowie
Since 2000, St. Louis’ YOWIE has been perfecting a unique form of progressive rock that incorporates complex polyrhythms and guitar dissonance.
Operating within its own unique idiom, YOWIE rejects rock music’s typical foundation of common time signature and standard melodic structures. For their 3rd album, “Synchromysticism,” the band has used these tools, as well as the drummer’s (a clinical psychologist) understanding of signal detection theory and delusional mood to convey complex phenomenological concepts in a highly visceral form. This album, the first with guitarist Christopher Trull (formerly of Grand Ulena) marks a new level of ambition in terms of conceptual complexity, synthesizing opposing compositional approaches into a distinctive style that simultaneously elicits feelings of euphoria, perplexity, dread... and an inexorable urge to dance.
This is post-apocalyptic dance music for the coming age.
PRESS QUOTES:
"In all of my musical listening, I can think of few bands that have had the same baffling effect on me as Yowie. In terms of musicianship, composition, and style,Yowie are incredibly impressive." - Progsphere
“Extreme technical proficiency is taken to new places. There’s a slippery, rubbery quality to the sound and playing too. Though hyper-precise, there’s lots of swing to the drumming, lots of bent notes and sliding on guitar strings. When Yowie does fall into a groove - for about 6 seconds - it’s never in 4/4 time. It’s hard to believe these 3 people found each other to form this band.” - No-Core
"In the midst of some of the most virtuosically talented and respected musicians playing today, Yowie is singular... Watching them live is like witnessing a reptile birth a human; utterly perplexing, yet amazing.” - KDHX
“As frenetic and intense as anything you'd hear from the likes of The Dillinger Escape Plan but without the vocals or as much distortion... could match any tech metal or grind band in a contest for intensity.” - Dont Count On It
“To say that Yowie exists outside of genre understates the band's utter lack of convention. Yowie naturally, and somehow seamlessly, undermines classic notions of style or song structure.” - StL Mag
"The climax of rock music. This is outsider music for our entire dimension. No band has had this sort of vision since Beefheart marinaded us with tales of Big Joan's anatomy. In the dozens of times I've listened to this album I've never heard the same album twice." - Loving Peter Cetera
Ultimate Edition includes a glass-mastered Compact Disc with alternate artwork, a colored vinyl LP packaged in a matte-varnished “un-candescent” jacket, a collectible wrap-around obi and a huge 22” x 22” double-sided poster by cover artist Arnulf Rödler.
Tracklist
Credits
Christopher Trull : guitar
Jeremiah W onsewitz : guitar
Defenestrator : drums
Recorded by Jason McEntire at Sawhorse Studios
Post-Production Work by Tazu Marshall
Mixed by Scott Evans at Antisleep Audio
Mastered by Carl Saff
Cover art by Arnulf Rödler.
LP/CD release date: 4/21/2017
Tape release date 12/03/2022
License
All rights reserved.Tags
Yowie plays a dense foreign language through two guitars which communicate in an angry six string banter over strictly scattered drums. This power trio speaks in alien code that's never fully deciphered. Daniel Kennedy (Cleric) and Jack Tickner (Basil's Kite) now join founding member Defenestrator on the band's 4th album, which is currently mixing.