Review: Boyfrndz Make Radio-Friendly Prog Rock with Second Album

Austin, TX’s Boyfrndz are one of the few groups who have the guts to adopt influences from southern prog rock. That’s not something to scoff at, because in addition to gathering the works of The Mars Volta and Hella, Boyfrndz also have post-hardcore pioneers At the Drive-in and Northern noise rockers Lightning Bolt in their influences. Not only is this eclectic, but these bands have become famous for challenging and energized recordings, so Boyfrndz have their work cut out for them. The group’s sophomore record Breeder is eerie and atmospheric, but it’s also a bit too safe and consistent to garner the same acclaim as the band’s influences. It’s a prog record with radio sensibilities, and while that’s not the genre in its best form, Breeder is still a worthwhile head-trip for the casual fan.

If you’re familiar with any kind of experimental or progressive rock, there’s a good chance that you know who The Mars Volta are. That spacey, prog-rock outfit created by the afroed guys from At the Drive-in, they created one of the most epic prog rock albums of all time, Frances the Mute. What does this have to do with Breeder? Well, Boyfrndz are apparently big fans of Frances the Mute. Breeder’s tracks sound eerily similar, specifically the 32-minute “Cassandra Gemini.” Vocalist Scott Martin is a slightly more punk version of Cedric Bixler-Zavala, with less cackling falsetto and more trembling belt-out calls. The constant vocal effects rarely make the vocals stand out from each other, but “Big Faces” is an amazingly groovy song, with Martin’s smooth crooning echoing both Bixler-Zavala and early Zeppelin Robert Plant. It’s a strong wave, one that demonstrates range and rhythm, even if the song itself isn’t anything too complex.

But Breeder doesn’t possess the energized punk influence of The Mars Volta, which can make the distorted shoegazing guitars and echoing vocals of Scott Martin drone on a tad too long. The turbulent shifts in tone, rhythm and tempo are absent, draining the songs of personality and dynamicity within. Song to song, however, the tracks show more of their guts, especially in the latter half. The garage-band style percussion from Aaron Perez in “Burn Through It” marks a messier, but stronger use of prog rhythm, complemented further by Martin’s step-by-step vocal climbs, sounding more Noctourniquet than Frances the Mute with traces of Rodriguez-Lopez solo work for good measure. The haunting first three tracks “Intro”, “Each Others” and “All At Once” are produced with eerie effects and high-pitched guitar jangles. Riffs are out, but the prog twang is in full force.

The guitar duality of Martin and Jess Moore are right in tune with Omar Rodriguez-Lopez’s guitars from Frances the Mute: razor-sharp, striking, sliding tones under significant distortion and bend. The rhythms rarely get the same attention, as they stick to mid-tempo for most of the record and don’t accelerate or decelerate to any point of perverse disorientation. Compared to similar experimental albums, Breeder sounds remarkably tame, focusing more on groove instead of over-the-top prog mastery like their influences. It’s difficult calling this album progressive when so much of it is the same throughout and the comfort zone is settled instead of departed.

Not to say the album is bad: for all its similarities to Frances the Mute, Breeder still sounds like Boyfrndz are taking those awesome influences and changing them up. The shorter song lengths and lack of left turns make Breeder sound more like Frances Lite, capturing the haunting and spectral tone but without any real sense of adventure. That being said, it’s a strongly performed record, especially in its tail end, but it would’ve been better to hear a bit more variety beyond the echoing vocals and screeching guitars. Breeder is a prog rock album for those who don’t like prog rock. It may not have the ambition of The Mars Volta, but the tonal command and creepy atmosphere still make it worth a go.

Physical pre-orders are available HERE while digital pre-orders are available HERE.

The video for the track ‘Moving Parts’ from the Natures EP can be seen HERE.

BOYFRNDZ Tour Dates:

Mar 25 Seattle, WA Waid’s

Mar 26 Portland, OR Holocene

Mar 27 Oakland, CA Pallet Space

Mar 28 San Francisco, CA Bottom of the Hill

Mar 29 Los Angeles, CA Bonnerhaus

Mar 30 Phoenix, AZ Last Exit

Apr 02 Houston, TX Warehouse Live

Apr 03 New Orleans, LA Gasa Gasa

Apr 04 Baton Rouge, LA Spanish Moon