Strangely Powerful

Review Score:

A

December 6th / 2024 –

Ah, the dreaded month of December. Few musicians dare to push their album releases this far into the year, lest you end up being overlooked for “best of” lists. Real Goblin’s list has yet to be released. Is that largely because of laziness? Yes. But I was also very deliberately waiting for this album’s release. Cameron Winter, front man of one of my new favorite bands, Geese, announced a debut solo project not long ago. With it, were the non-album singles “Vines” and “Take It With You”. Both of which were quite raw and stripped back. Particularly, “Vines” was beautifully written and stuck with me for some time. Winter’s dramatic and rich vocals immediately set Geese apart for me, and I was excited to see how he could wield that his vocal and writing chops on a solo project.

If you went into this, as I did, expecting songs with the same stripped back sound as those singles, you’ll get some of what you want. But most pleasantly surprising to me was the wide variety of ideas on Heavy Metal. From the gentle woodwinds and cute little percussive shakers, to the deep, rich drone of an electric organ. These songs feel like what Geese songs in a fantastical, conceptual stage. “Nausicaä (Love Will Be Revealed)” is a great example of what I’m attempting to describe. Rather than a choir of soulful, backing vocals, Cameron Winter’s soft, unique falsetto does the job. And while different, it sounds just as good. The musical composition is equally as fun and engaging, but in a homemade sort of way. The album’s descriptive blurb claims the project was “composed in abandoned basements, taxi back seats, and in impromptu jam sessions in public spaces”. And it does sound like that in the best way.

Winter’s writing takes center stage in the absence of the full Geese crew. The flock, if you will. And in his writing, Cameron Winter proves once again that he is a talented and poetic storyteller. It helps that everything he says is delivered in a voice that could sing the alphabet and have me fully engaged. Songs like “Drinking Age” or “Cancer of the Skull” are true powerhouses. Winter is able to paint pictures that are equal parts visceral and obscure.

Never again will I doubt the power of Cameron Winter. There’s a lot to say about Heavy Metal. I could write something about how Winter “musically ambles through etc. etc.”, but the truth of the matter is that there’s an indescribable kind of energy to this record. I only fear that too few people will find this one so late into the year. Cameron Winter is one to watch.

Review Score:

A

Gubb wrote this review. You can’t get mad at Gubb.