RobertKropop - 2019 - Psychodelicious Mushroom Juice

(44:48; RobertKropop)

Track list:
1. Synesthesia 3:08
2. Geronimo 2:52
3. King of the Monster 3:41
4. Age of Aquarius 2:58
5. Alice in Wonderland Syndrome 4:36
6. Siren Song 4:42
7. Silk Road Suite Part 2 4:16
8. Hands Full of Lights 5:03
9. Water Mirror 2:33
10. Mammoths March 5:03
11. Wave 2:07
12. Motorheart 3:49

Line-up:
Not stated


Prolusion.
Polish artist RobertKropop is an artist I don't know all that much about. He has two albums to his name so far, but apart from that and that he comes from Poland there's not all that much information to find about this artist. "Psychodelicious Mushroom Juice" is his second album, and was released back in 2019.

Analysis.
If I should place this album into any specific category, instrumental metal would be my primary choice for this album. Most of the songs touch upon metal one way or the other, all the songs are instrumental, so context wise this is an easy production to categorize.

The majority of the songs here are fairly straightforward affairs too, at least as far as structure is concerned. The rhythms often stay within the same parameters, while the bass and guitars may switch things around a bit. A tad unusual for an album of this kind is that guitar riffs have just about as central a role as the guitar soloing, and as such the songs strikes me as perhaps a bit more developed as complete composition as well.

We do get some folk music impulses added here and there, and the bass guitar will often take on a bit more of an expressive mode that adds what might be a slight touch of jazz to the proceedings. We do get a few tracks with a bit more of a refined character to them as well, with alternating arrangements and adjustments in pace and intensity that does add a slight progressive flavor to the proceedings. None of these are defining traits of this album though, but they do expand the palette in use quite a bit and does add a bit of variation to the album experience too. Much the same is the case with a couple of more delicate or expressive atmospheric mood pieces that pops up here and there.

Conclusion.
Instrumental metal, or perhaps instrumental hard rock with a metal orientation, is what RobertKropop has to offer on his second album " Psychodelicious Mushroom Juice". While not as expressive as the album title may indicate, it is a fine production albeit one that perhaps may have a bit more of a limited reach. An album for those with an interest in instrumental metal to seek out first and foremost in my book, and with a few cuts that have a bit of a progressive flavor to them those with an interest in metal artists that dips their toes into progressive waters now and then might also want to give this album a spin.

Olav "Progmessor" Björnsen, January 2022

Links:
http://robertkropop.com/