Creature Creature - PSYCHETELOS

author: Jessieface

© Creature Creature - Mote Sinabel

PSYCHETELOS was released on June 12th under MORRIE’s own label, Psyche Records. Limited to 1,000 copies, the double A-side was distributed at a live on June 12 at Shibuya O-EAST.

The opening chord progression of the title track is rather stunning. Unusual scooping vocals, paired with amazing vibrato at the end of some stanzas which turn into growling and screaming fits, seem to make Psyche darker. It’s harder to distinguish choruses and verses because the song is an entire journey to be taken as a whole.

The second A-side track, Telos, begins rather abstractly. There is no counting in, courtesy of the drummer or the vocalist. Telos just begins with no ‘rhyme or reason’. Haunting guitar riffs played at odd chords that float over each other; the tone of the chords sound like distant sirens distorted by the night winds. A mysterious yet overwhelming feeling rushes into the listener’s ears the moment MORRIE begins to sing. The rest of the song up until 50 seconds to the end is a smooth, relaxing journey. Beyond that 50 second mark is a wild, extravagant expression of sound. The guitar alone is something to be admired, an art of its own. The sounds buzz in shrill tones as the guitar slowly squeals and distorts, paired with a light layer of synthesizer that acts like static, creating a sense of being driven into a fit of rage. MORRIE’s whispers turn into agitated, short spurts of screams as the distorted guitar continues to ring in the listener’s ears. Then, it just ends—no fading out, nothing. Just silence.

To sum it up, the limited edition single expresses sounds as if DEAD END and Matenrou Opera had a lovechild. Elements of MORRIE’s time in DEAD END up until the 90s and recently in their revival, solo work and inspiration that has filtered through newer groups is relived through PSYCHETELOS.