The French prog metal scene is remarkably lively. 2019 has been an excellent vintage for French bands evolving in the genre, and 2020 starts just as well with Mobius' second album, "Kala".
Born on the island of La Réunion in 2012, Mobius quickly packed his bags in Lyon, integrating new members and releasing its first album in 2016, "The Line". A first successful attempt showing a band with a strong potential knowing how to marry styles, between progressive metal, symphonic metal and world music. Three years later, symphonic metal has practically disappeared from Mobius' music. But its personality has particularly asserted itself. So much so that "Kala" is without a doubt the most original and interesting album of the beginning of this year.
However, the challenge of combining modern metal with djent inspirations and Indian and Asian sounds is not an easy one. But Mobius manages it with flying colours. First of all thanks to progressive and inventive compositions built around a formidable rhythmic sense, giving pride of place to syncopated guitar riffs and a huge amount of work on the bass ('Abhinivesha'). Then thanks to esoteric lyrics in English and Sanskrit that add an occult spirituality to the mysticism of Mobius' music. This propensity for esotericism is sublimated by the delicate voice of Heli Andrea who combines lightness and power and does not hesitate to modulate his inflections to the point of sometimes becoming incantatory, recalling in certain aspects the work of Magma with whom Mobius has many points in common ('Sharira', 'M').
The album is punctuated by short intriguing instrumentals called 'A', 'U' and 'M' which, besides the reference to the famous Hindu "Om" or "Aum" that defines the original sound, allow to breath to grasp the richness of the main tracks. And from this point of view, "Kala" doesn't suffer from any weakness and subtly mixes ancestral musical influences to a very modern progressive metal ('Akasha'). In spite of a very technical music, Mobius effortlessly leads us into his singular universe, alternating djent rhythms ('Mukti') and tribal cadences ('Abhinivesha', 'U'), huge riffs and aerial keyboards ('Akasha', 'Bhati'), jazzy guitar soli and slapped bass (Abhinivesha'), while sprinkling each track with Indian and oriental sonorities which make all the originality and richness of his musical discourse.
Constructed as a slow progression from shadow to light, the album illustrates the cycle of life, beginning with the dark 'Abhinivesha' about death and disappearance and ending with the miracle of birth (the magnificent 'Bhati') and an instrumental offering to the Hindu God of fire and light ('Agni'). Although the theme may seem obscure at first glance, it corresponds in every way to the richness of Mobius' music. And all the strength and originality of "Kala" lies in the coherence and sincerity of its musical intent.
There's no doubt about it, Mobius has just entered the court of the greats of the hexagonal metal prog scene and deserves to cross our borders. It's only a matter of time. And time is called "Kala" in Sanskrit.