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iForward Russias success two years ago always struck Gigwise as being slightly odd. Not that it was undeserved rather that it seemed so peculiar. A band who were decidedly unfashionable and who had songs that skipped between pummelling riffs and ethereal twinkles, all of which were named after numbers, seemed so unlikely to crossover it was a welcome but confusing idea that they did.
Their sophomore effort ‘Life Processes’ is a case of "If it isn’t broke" with more emphasis this time on the more epic and delicate elements of the Leeds based bands music. ‘Welcome To The Moment’ throws the listener straight back into the deep end with its pounding drums and sweeping, angry guitars laying foundation to one of ‘Life Processes’ heaviest moments. The bands heavier material has much more immediacy to it and works well in juxtaposition to the more Prog influenced ballads shown here. Surely set to lodge themselves next to ‘Thirteen’ and ‘Nine’ as live favourites are ‘We Are Grey Matter’, ‘A Prospector Can Dream’ the spiky ‘Don’t Reinvent What You Don’t Understand’ and the enormous ‘A Shadow Is A Shadow’. All bombastic, pop laced adrenaline shots to the arm they are classic FR with more vim and vigour.
‘A Shadow’, twinned with ‘Gravity & Heat’, join together as the gems in ‘Life Processes’ crown. Both expertly blend the two elements of Forward Russias formula. The heavy and light, the dark and bright, the ying and the yang: Forward Russia are about juxtaposition and the balance is achieved well on ‘Life Processes’. It feels more expansive and free roaming than its predecessor, matured to a level to explore melancholia on ‘Some Buildings’ and the sprawling nine minute beauty of album finale‘Spanish Triangles’.
There are weak songs on the LP however. The utterly ill advised first single ‘Breaking Standing’ never gets going and stalls the flow of the album anywhere, also ‘Spring Is A Condition' really is just more of the same in a good but over done first act. Criticism will also come from those who find Toms vocals too histrionic. True, they are but this is not an album of small proportions, it’s a fucking tank - bulldozing stadiums and festival fields for miles to come - anyone trying to get in its way will simply be crushed under the weight.
Development-check. Pace and power- check. Splendour- check. Great second album- check.
