R3VO – Fireflies

R3VO – Fireflies
Release Date: 16th November 2022
Label: Self Released 
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Genre: Alt-Rock, Prog Rock, Progressive Metal.
FFO: Guano Apes, Red Summer, Porcupine Tree, Karnivool.
Review By: Rick Farley

Whenever you discover a band on the cusp of a major breakout, it can be a very gratifying experience. The thought that you got there first always puts a smile on the face. Luckily, I’m in a position to tell you of such a band and what’s sure to be a meteoric rise. Berlin Germany’s finest prog metal, alt-rock band R3VO, founded in 2019 are about to unveil their debut EP Fireflies. A genre bending mini album with serious chops and an undeniable grip on adding breathtaking flare to the word hooky. On the surface, R3VO is a heavy prog-rock band with doses of metal, electronic, pop, hardcore, funk, grunge and several other influences you’ll find, once you’ve fully dug in. All masterfully done in the manner of in-your-face drum/bass groove with the intent of just plain getting you to move your body. Catchy riffs that move from vibrant and energetic to hopeful and moody.  Add in dramatic vocals with raw energy and unique intonation, thus creating a formidable chemistry of sheer badassery.   

Opening track Artificial Pleasure is a bulky psychedelic powerhouse, that goes from fuzzy bass and guitar heaviness to quieting itself at times to jazzy undertones, always erupting back into distorted grooves and soaring vocals. This is prog at its truest form, expressing complexity through various forms of creativity. Vocalist Leo Lotux offers raw emotion with a cool aesthetic in delivery. She conveys fierceness without screaming, but rather with perfectly placed accents on her extremely diverse, but alluring voice. Each musician is highly skilled, and it distinctly shows. There’s a reason this was featured on Metal Hammers “The ten best metal songs you need to hear right now” article in June of 2022.

Album title track Fireflies hits with a slinky guitar groove and a bass pedal thumping from drummer Altair Chagué, his creative use of fills is a masterclass of virtuosity played within groove. Bassist Victor Nissim, who’s fuzzy lines drive the song into a poppy chorus hook that’s impossible not to love. Its incredible catchiness takes a turn into an explosive electronic outro to close out the song. Victor is playing thick bass runs, while inventive guitarist Jan Kurfürst is tinkering in the background with crazy lead sounds and complex distorted melodies. An unexpected turn in the song that brings the coolness factor up even higher. Aluminium, the darkest song here, is a slow burner of ascending melodies and intensity. The ranging emotions of the track close out the EP perfectly. 

As a whole, the record sounds fantastic. Production duties were handled by Rasmus Schmidt, who recorded the EP. Mixing was done by Sasha Bowers and mastering by Arran Dutt and Boe Larsen. Fireflies has a rich sound, with each element having incredible clarity. It’s very crisp, with warm tones and full-bodied low end. The dynamics are fully realized, with every note accounted for and heard. 
I don’t typically rate EP’s this high simply because you don’t really get the full story, but this band’s impact within the five song, twenty-minute EP Fireflies is colossal. R3VO is a force of cool swagger. Heavy, beautiful, dark, and funky progressive metal that’s extremely creative, highly replayable and just plain rocks. Don’t miss this one.

(4.5 / 5)