Schnellertollermeier: X

This young Swiss trio with the tongue twister moniker, derived by stringing the musicians' surnames together, helps redefine the conventional guitar-led power trio format and succeeds on many fronts. It's an adrenalized outfit that abides by a thunderous posture, amalgamating progressive rock, metal, minimalism and Sci-Fi style free improvisation amid devastating bass and drums interactions. At times, the band's high-volume force-field could make Black Sabbath sound like a hotel lounge act.

The musicians dish out cyclical and mesmerizing arrangements, spanning high impact minimalism, unorthodox phrasings and riffs fashioned with portentous intentions. Guitarist Manuel Troller employs subliminal loops and treatments during many of these comps that elicit similes to an electro-mechanical underpinning, also evident when the trio is punching out odd-metered choruses and launching experimental improv dialogues. And while this unit doesn't embed its approach with a horde of soloing activities, the respective members do stretch out, often leading to wailing crescendos. More often than not, they methodically build up steam and reenergize with hardcore droning notes and EFX-based additives that tender an alien backdrop. Indeed, the artists find a home in no man's land as a sense of the visual is a prevalent aspect.

On "Backyard Lipstick," the rhythm section's thumping cadence is overlaid by someone who whistles to a cheery motif, contrasted by Troller's bizarre effects and notes that leave a trailing effect. It sounds like a demented theme song for a soccer team. And "Massacre Du Printemps," sparks memories of 70s King Crimson along with the trio's wily reengineering processes and primal breakouts. Perhaps the most intriguing and catchy piece "///\\\///," is honed down by the guitarist's lushly melodic and spellbinding ostinato hook, executed with harmonic chord voicings. Moreover, drummer David Meier and bassist Andi Schnellmann gradually heave the storyline into a mammoth cadenza topped off by a tumultuous climax. From a structural outlook, the musicians operate on a markedly different plane than most power trios, which is a factor that establishes a tantalizing proposition for the present, and for what may be in store via the trio's forthcoming projects.

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