AVGMNT – SEQVENCES

Release date: 21 April 2023
Label: Self-release

Intro

In the PNW, musicians tend to run across each other easily and creative sparks soon fly. Such is the case for Portland-based AVGMNT, a duo who crossed paths while playing in separate bands. Vocalist Zach Wager and guitarist Fernando Ruiz started with a cover of Johnny Cash‘s God’s Gonna Cut You Down. From then on, it was obvious the two would work well together. A mutual love of EDM, industrial, synthwave, and trap–as well as the desire to experiment with these–was the foundation of a new project. Now having played live, this duo is ready to release their debut album, SEQVENCES.

The Album

The album opens with the robotic hums and wails of Horizon Seqvence. Though barely longer than 90 seconds, this track features multiple progressions and vocals, making it more than just an intro. Copy <Waste> rolls open with a fairly complex beat on the synth that shifts and bleeds throughout. The vocals here are crisp and perfectly mixed to match the music while the industrial synth work is rather impressive. However, its complexity and technique make it lacking in the fun factor.

Hvman Skin seemingly takes the criticism of the previous and instantly dares to surprise the listener. A very tight beat, sleazy and dripping vocals, and masterful work on the synth elevate this track to art. It’s hard to understand how many directions this track goes in just five minutes, but every single one works. After this, Somatose is pleasantly uncomfortable, a strange beat whining under almost anxious vocals. The focus on enunciation here, aided by the minimalism of the synth, is another layer to the vocals, making every hiss stand out.

Halfway through, Nvll makes a tonal shift, starting quietly with a mantra before going completely out there. Copy <Waste> had many twists and turns, but this track moves so many ways that it’s hard to keep track of where you are. Fortunately, Slvmtropolis comes in to ground the listener, the beat from the synth almost as loud as the silence between vocal notes. This track features extensive guest vocals that even get their own verses, which is greatly appreciated. It feels very much like this is a three-person goth harmonic medley, like a song that didn’t quite make it into Repo Man.

Another short track, Bvrial is solely comprised of a series of long, loud harmonic notes. The sound is similar to the part in the 80s movie when they finally see the magical kingdom on the horizon. Immediately after, Pvre Black grabs you by the neck and makes sure you’re still awake with a rough synth and grinding guitar. The vocals and synths also play off each other very well here, making a fun and persistent bop that suddenly dies off near the end, wrapping up the album.

A Final Word

New artists, especially if they work anywhere in the electronica sphere, can have a hard time finding and creating their own sound. This should not be the case for the rather unique AVGMNT, even with how new they are on the scene. Fans of 3TEETH and Aesthetic Perfection will definitely have an ear for what they put out, though the sound is still very much their own. With such an impressive first release as SEQVENCES, it’s exciting to think what AVGMNT will experiment with next.

Lineup:

• Zach Wager | OmegaZ/ΩZ (He/Him) – Vocals, Additional Synths
• Fernando Ruiz | alphaN/αn (He/Him) – Guitars, Synths, Additional Vocals
• Jax Ayers (She/Her) – Additional vocals on SLVMTROPOLIS
• Rebecca “Buzz” Wager (She/Her) – Additional vocals on SLVMTROPOLIS

Links:

Bandcamp
Facebook