Neva's latest EP finds them becoming more comfortable with their surroundings and highlights their musical growth as they merge together elements of reggae, new metal, dub and the ever classic sound of the legendary Bad Brains into a sound that is both fresh and striking with emotional intensity and bold ideas.
Band frontman Peacefire Maji's vocal prowess has increased tenfold and while he does use a slightly rasta styled HR of Bad Brains delivery at times, the bulk of the material included here, finds him stepping into his own, slowly spilling out sullen emotion with heartfelt croons that come divided by enraged verbal outbursts. Guitar work has been stepped up a bit as well, this time possessing more depth and using tripped out effects and peculiar riffs to add a full yet colorful sonic ambiance that is intermittently mauled by grating riffs of a more traditional new metal nature. Bass playing is a key element of the bands sound as always, guiding the songs with bottom heavy gallops that draw influence from reggae and dub, though their incarnations here have been put through the grinder and packaged in a modern wrapping. Percussion is also quite riotous and energetic, utilizing a multitude of cymbals and splashes to accentuate their hectic pace that for the most part is expressed through fast paced beats that come dripping with dub, metal and jungle calisthenics.
As a finished package the group have definitely started to assemble the foundations of their own sound. From Peacefire's fiery emotional drawl and Matt's vigorous percussion to the smoothed over part changes that litter the bands music, making it akin to an auditory roller coaster that comfortably handles the unrelenting ups and downs. Decidedly, there are a few parts where the music does feel a bit rough and loses its momentum, but as a whole the band are definitely progressing down the right path and starting to solidify their sound as something that shows both creativity and innovation by the truckload. With 5-Line Legacy and Neva both representing the fundamentals of reggae, new metal, dub and more, it seems that new ideas have no problem blossoming within the Canadian scene and its not much of a stretch to think that Neva's next release will represent the realness and progressive ideas they have touched upon here to an even more prevalent degree.
