“The best day of my life was the moment that I died.“
Surgeon is one of many artists that flew under my personal 2023 radar. Born from Reflections vocalist Jake Wolf’s desire to create a bleak, dystopian world with djenty, Danza-esque deathcore as the accompanying soundtrack, it’s a project that has yet to gain much traction. Petunia, however, Wolf’s first full-length LP under this new identity, is sure to turn some heads; an eight track affair, four of which remain unheard, that shatter the boundaries between the simple, mosh-inducing nature of deathcore and the dizzying, less-accessible elements associated with bands such as the late and aforementioned The Tony Danza Tapdance Extravaganza.
As Wolf has had a hand in the writing processes behind Reflections’ more recent material, a fair number of sonic comparisons can immediately be drawn between both projects. However, I think it best to separate them almost entirely as two separate musical entities, as they differ greatly in purpose, scope and aim. While Jake and company are known for incorporating deeply personal narratives into their progressive yet crushing take on metalcore, Surgeon has its own story to tell; one that is driven by lyricism detailing a parasitic society that thrives on greed and monopolism, not unlike the one we inhabit in the real world. The question is, does the music match the lyricism in its frustration and distaste for the morally sick? Of course, if you’ve sampled any of the four precedent singles, you already know the answer.
“Medicine Man” wastes no time in making a statement. This multi-faceted opening track encompasses everything there is to love about this project, with an amalgamation of different sonic elements that craft a soundscape that is as captivating as it is crushing. While the initial half contributes to Petunia’s worldbuilding by establishing a dark and dystopian atmosphere, the latter is a punishing mosh-fest comprised of addicting djent breakdowns with an admirable vocal performance laid atop.
“Clown Baby” ensures the momentum built during the opener does not grind to a halt. This one remains a favorite of mine for the simple fact that it is probably the most twisted cut on the record, if it wasn’t already made obvious by its rather disturbing title. Wolf’s vocal performance on this track is extremely diverse; from witch-like shrieks to guttural lows, no punches are pulled here. Beneath the vocal assault is some downright phenomenal drumming, also performed by Wolf, supported by an angular 9 string guitar onslaught that dominates the bass side of the mix.
With matters of mixing and production in mind, it must be said that Petunia’s are executed phenomenally. All instrumentation is perfectly balanced in a way that allows the record’s atmospheric vision to be fully realized without sacrificing any of the accompanying trademark heaviness Wolf’s recent endeavors are known for. “Universe 25” is an apt demonstration, as the middle section of the track contains a grand symphonic section backed by an array of blast beats and vocals, where all facets are balanced beautifully, before transitioning into a dizzying djent rhythm in seamless fashion.
“B.H.C.F.H.C.” demonstrates Wolf’s percussion prowess further with its frenetic blasting and otherwise memorable drum flavour. “Trauma Dump” and “Monopoly”, unfortunately, fall a little short due to the mid-album slump that many records of this nature suffer from. In many cases, it is unavoidable, as extensive periods of harsh and heavy music can make for a trying listen. However, I feel Petunia could’ve used a special something to break up the tracklist; perhaps an interlude or something with a little more experimentation at the core.
Fortunately, penultimate track “Profit Prophet” is a standout that’s able to keep things moving along nicely as we enter the concluding phase of the record. This cut is grand in everything but name, with some of the most captivating guitar work across the album. The 1:16 mark showcases an especially killer riff whose like could have made Petunia a little more memorable during its less-than-stellar moments. The notable guitar work is paired nicely with an emphasis on atmosphere which carries over to the closer “Hunger Stones”, where the album eventually winds down to an ambient backdrop that serves as a much-needed reprieve from the chaotic wall of noise that was Petunia.
Despite a few moments of redundance, Petunia is a well-crafted debut that sees Jake Wolf’s solo career off to an impressive start. Fans of Reflections will certainly appreciate what has been done here, and with each passing release, I’ve no doubt that Surgeon will continue to improve on its already monumental sound.
8/10
Petunia drops on November 30th, and can be pre-ordered here.