Dirgahayu - Bahawasa​-​nya (2013)

Why and how would I have missed this last year?....honestly it makes me weep. But seriously gals and guys
this Malaysian group is instrumental rock at its finest. Need a good marker for a great band? is the drummer constantly laying down the sweet sass behind the kit?

Yes?

Ok!

Be they but two songs, so much character can be found just from the first torch burner that you are left wanting so MUCH                              M O R E

( DIRGAHAYU )

(Upcoming) Strawberry Girls - French Spiritual (2013)

Incoming threat....this is going to level your face.

Strawberry Girls.  Epic Instrumental Math Riffery

Check the couple tracks already out then hit the previous years release.

WRD

strawberrygirls

The Littlest Viking - The Littlest Viking (2012)

 Last time on Plenty of Swords..

Any human animal that has stumbled upon our page with at least a passing interest in math rockery should be familiar with these two boys. The Littlest Viking lay down some really great down to earth math rock with more of a focus on song craft than guit shredin. This new release is a restless one to be sure with different flavors being added to the mix. Vocals make more than a few appearances and dont seem to really grab me by the throat like I had hoped. Really the songs are at their best when these two are laying down emotional instrumental rock.  Admittedly I found the rhythms to be a bit more straight forward than last go. Yes there are some very solid songs going here that I will prolly come back to but on the whole...I'm feeling a little let down. Time could be the great decider however once I get more of a chance to spend time with this one.

Also someone must have eaten the "pop punk pill" on a couple of these jammers

TLV

toe - The Future is Now (EP)

Continuing with their domination of lite instrumental math rock, toe has recently released their newest EP.  While it doesn't really expand upon the ideas of the full length.....this is toe we are talking about here and as such its pretty damn amazing. Also amazingly short at a paltry 4 songs!!! GRRAAHH!!!

The melodies and rhythms on display here are top notch as always.  The closing song for me remains a large highlight but its all pretty flawless.  You know you've been wanting it so have the appetizer before the main dish (soon I hope).

The Future is Now (ep)

The Littlest Viking - Labor and Lust (2009)

Fun and interesting instrumental rock music must be my special weakness along with babies, san pellegrino and a nice apple on a fall day. I can promise you have heard bits and pieces these guys throw around in other groups but they do it with a great bounce and even transcend to some emotional parts on a few songs. Very excellent two piece that I personally have been waiting to here from for awhile. the guitar can get a bit technical but generally likes to bounce along but boy can that drummer pummel his kit. If this is a new face for you and your into this sort of math rock bizz do it.

Labor and Lust (2009)

Ghosts and Vodka

If you want to talk about what the hell these current instrumental math bands are listening to you can more often than not draw a direct line to these gentlemen. Ghosts and Vodka is a mix mixture of two well known groups Joan of Arc and Cap'n Jazz. To say that this album is influential for the genre would be an understatement. Japanese band Toe in an interview once said they initially formed to play music like Ghosts and Vodka. Lets not even start on Victor Villareal's guitar style, we could be here all day. The music itself is incredibly dynamic and rhythmically complex but with a great sense of melody to back it up. Both Guitarists, Villareal and  Sam Zurick would go on to rejoin there Cap'n Jazz band mates for a new group called Owls. If you haven't your missing out.

Addicts and Drunks