Album review
Perfect Storm
Stairs
Glassville Records
Following their artistically successful debut No Air in 2021, the adventurous Groningen-based rock band Perfect Storm is set to release their second full-length album, Stairs, on November 14. The band, consisting of guitarist Gert-Jan Schurer, bassist David Klompmakers, keyboardist Jan Munnik, drummer Wieger Dijkstra, and vocalists Hiske Oosterwijk and Adel Saflou, delivers another impressive work.
The album opens with the accessible Demons Dance. Powerful guitar riffs and dual vocals are supported by atmospheric synth pads. The fretless bass shines beautifully in the chorus, and the overall sound and vibe is reminiscent of Alice In Chains’ golden days. The bridge features a lovely falsetto and an excellent melodic guitar solo.
Skin Deep Sky begins with an intriguing 5/4 time signature, where guitar and piano take the lead. After a brief transition to 4/4, a harmonized vocal section follows. The chorus remains in 4/4, while the middle section in 15/8 allows space for synth strings, piano accompaniment, and long guitar lines. This track evokes the atmosphere of The Gathering’s Nighttime Birds album from 1997.
In Don’t Go, the multi-part vocals are introduced right away, with Hiske Oosterwijk taking the lead. Her voice stands out beautifully in the verses. The song grabs you immediately and, like the previous tracks, features a dark edge in the chorus with beautiful vocal harmonies. For me, this is the standout track of the album, partly due to its compact nature.
The powerful guitar riffs from Demons Dance return in I am Tomorrow, accompanied by creatively placed synthesizer chords. The timing of the vocals is excellent here, and the harmonization between Saflou and Oosterwijk is fantastic. The middle section is delightfully proggy with a beautiful guitar solo and offers more room for instrumental passages.
Misspend starts in 7/8 with percussion and tasteful open guitar and bass chords. Oosterwijk takes the lead vocals here, which are beautifully answered with counterpoints. Midway through, a beautifully sung melodic theme over piano chords continues instrumentally. The track is cleverly composed and arranged with well-timed accents.
The title track begins slowly, with strong intervals in the vocal melody and tasteful chord changes. Midway through, the tempo picks up, and the themes return. The tasty fretless bass parts are once again beautifully integrated into the overall mix.
The album closes with its longest track, Depraved Mind. Saflou immediately sets a menacing vocal tone. The style of Demons Dance and I am Tomorrow returns, with wordless staccato vocals, likely doubled with synthesizer, and sliding synth arpeggios. A atmospheric interlude follows, where guitar and keyboard textures take center stage. Once the drums kick in, we are treated to a sung melody, followed by a solo from Schurer. The ending is delightfully proggy with strong synth parts and guitar riffs, reminiscent of Opeth. The Saflou/Oosterwijk duo showcases their talents one last time, while Schurer shines with impressive solo work.
The compositions and arrangements are well thought out. Aside from a few guitar solos, the focus is primarily on vocals, riffs, and atmosphere. No single element dominates, and the music occasionally opens up, allowing the subtler elements in the arrangement to shine.
The presence of two vocalists with distinct voices adds to the music’s tonal color. Perfect Storm delivers a tasteful and enjoyable second album with Stairs.
The album has been skillfully mixed by Niels Voskuil and mastered by Frans Vollink. The engineer is Ralph Fokkema.
Stairs will be released on Glassville Records.
To support the band directly, visit their Bandcamp page.