Polyphia - potentially the most interesting thing happening in the guitar world at the moment?

johnl

I've been vaguely aware of these guys for a long time but back then they were just some incredibly talented kids shredding their hearts out (which the internet is pretty much full of). That said they've recently shifted to a completely different style of music with incredibly complex, interesting riffs. Just thought I'd post a couple of them here in case others haven't heard of them:

This first one was a solo that's part of a larger compilation

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IL0dxX_z2qc

The main riff from this next one is well worth a listen:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9_gkpYORQLU

Slowed down version of the riff above so you can see what's going on:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B-U4hyKOPe0

proggy

I thought this was going to be about repairing cracks in your guitars!

TTBZ

Personally I prefer CHON but it’s a similar sort of thing, just cleaner and less electronic sounding. Just insane musicianship in both bands.

danny_777

Kinda feels like the dubstep of guitar playing... but sponsored by IBANEZ (HAVE YOU SEEN OUR NEW NOT-AN-RG SERIES??)

Very nifty though.

johnl

Hah - well both the guitarists have Ibanez sig guitars. 

Sassafras

Very impressive.
Shame it sounds so ugly and unmusical.

johnl

Did you honestly find that first video unmusical? Different tastes I suppose.

impmann

DREADFUL guitar sounds and whilst its incredibly difficult and worthy, it does just sound like the CD has been previously pre-enjoyed by a Gibbon eating jam using a six inch nail as a leverage device.

I normally like stuff like this (Cardiacs, Zappa, etc) but that really leaves me cold. Sorry.

thermionic

To me that sounds like it came from a computer science research lab. A project to see if an AI can compose elevator music. Zero appeal to me I’m afraid.

DefaultM

Should be exactly my kind of thing, but it just sounds like a dial up Internet connection crossed with an early 2000s ringtone.

octatonic

File under: Arrogant but impressive dude making boring music.

Loobs

Very talented but doesn't do it for me at all. Fair enough how they mix genres though, they seem pretty open minded and singular. 

PolarityMan

Kinda like Animals as Leaders, all technique no songs. 

Loobs

Don't think they're trying to be Simon & Garfunkel, to be fair. 

grungebob

Not for me. 

Music should be about emotion not technical ability. 

That left me feeling nothing but boredom. 

I can clearly  see they are all great musicians and could play circles around me but I’d rather listen to something else. 

rossi

I knew Poly Phia in the 60's .It was all padding .

Rocker

Technically brilliant, zero musically. Probably appeals to young impressionable males. ‘nuff said. 

PolarityMan

Loobs said:

Don't think they're trying to be Simon & Garfunkel, to be fair. 

Why cant you have both? I like a fair bit of technicality in my music but it needs to be good on an aesthetic level as well as a technical level. 

WiresDreamDisasters

Does zero for me on any level tbh.

roberty

This music stirs a lot of feelings in me. It makes me feel old, ham fisted and slightly alienated :-)

I jest, I quite like it but it's not something I would put it on for fun, more of an academic interest

johnl

Surely it's better than Bonamassa playing Albert Lee lick #79 "this time with an extra bend" though?