#77 Flork Reviews: Pipesh - Maschinerie (2023)

 

 

Pipesh - Maschinerie (2023)

by Flork

It’s always fun listening to punk performed well, especially when it is produced in far away places like Košice, Slovakia. I mean, Košice is hardly a small village, in fact, it’s population is around 300,000 with a substantial working class. Its massive steelworks and ominous commie blocks provide the perfect backdrop of inspiration for punk rock bands. There are loads of social issues in this neck of the woods, supplying an endless amount of topics and content to sing about. And thus, Pipesh is the sort of group that would hardly surprise anyone by their music. Their debut album Maschinerie is full of catchy guitar and bass riffs, with several of their compositions leaning towards hardcore punk with touches of alternative and, at times, heavy doses of thrash. And yet, their sound can hardly be called noise, even though it does at many times appear to play havoc on the nervous system. Take for instance the opening track Mesuge maschine, which is a good example of Pipesh’s fresh sound, at least as far as punk goes, since the music and vocals are all audible with nothing being drowned out or buried in feedback and distortion. Each of the instruments stands out on their own, and, like the rest of the album, the bass gets a lot of the limelight with tracets and solos abounding. And because of this, there’s an element of funk in their sound that keeps things lively, like drinking a triple espresso on an empty stomach. Your heart may not thank you for it, but your blood circulation will.

I particularly like the second track Panický Záchvat (Panic seizure) with its sped-up parts and overall energy. It’s a really cool tune that could easily whip up a mosh pit when played live. And as I continue to listen on, I begin to really like this group. Another gem is Dilema which is a nicely-written composition that displays the band’s creativity best. Pipesh demonstrates that they are not just a run of the mill garage band, but in fact, talented musicians and composers. And if you think about it, a lot of attention is paid to each individual instrument and the vocal progressions. Pablo song is another example along these lines, with all the instruments and beats playing together in heavy unison. The album concludes with Strach (Fear) and, like everything else on this album, this track too stays true to Pipesh’s original style and visceral sound.

Overall, I give this album high marks, especially in the areas of creativity and originality, as well as sound. This is a young band with loads of potential and it is obvious that a lot of effort and time was put into creating and producing this album. It is sung entirely in Slovak, so it may not appeal to a wider audience, but it should satisfy many from the homegrown scene. In any case, anyone would have a great time at their shows, regardless of whether they understand the lyrics or not. Their energy alone is enough to unite all fans of punk and hardcore. Thumbs up to Pipesh for sure.