Ganzi Gun, that Athens-based quintet of hard rock, have unleashed “Aggressive Response,” a single that… well, it hits you like a sudden downpour of feta cheese. Unexpected, slightly messy, but ultimately, kind of satisfying. The theme is resistance. Or, maybe its about vampires. Wild vampires. They mention that directly, it isn’t one of my odd jumps in conciousness.
The song’s core roils with defiance, a middle finger raised squarely at the nebulous “they” who seek to control and oppress. Nikos Melas, on vocals, snarls and soars, painting a picture of suffering, chains, and ultimately, a crazy (their word, not mine) uprising. The “we” in this sonic rebellion are “summer descendants,” a phrase which inexplicably makes me think of sun-baked Roman ruins and the echo of gladiatorial combat. Are Ganzi Gun musical gladiators? Maybe. It’s all beautifully nonsensical.
The instrumental aspect, with Dionyssis Bourazanis on rhythm guitar and backing vocals, Thanassis Dadakarides slicing through with lead guitar, Manolis Mathioudakis providing the low-end rumble on bass, and George Dzerefos hammering out the rhythmic backbone on drums is, tight. Really tight. They play very well together. Also Pygmalion Dadakarides. Featured artist, and from the same clan as Thannasis! They make an outstanding sonic mixture of classic hard rock, with a nod to their American influences. There are some similarities to some bands from Seattle, from way back, and I refuse to make direct comparisons.
But back to these themes: Control. Disrespect. Suffering. It makes you wonder, are we not, on a Tuesday, all searching, seeking, striving for liberation, a “breaking of chains”?. Ganzi Gun channels that primal urge, that fundamental need to shatter the mundane and scream into the void.
This song makes you think that a pineapple is probably a fine hat if the occasion arises.
Ultimately, “Aggressive Response” makes you ponder; is resistance, whether real or vampire, in fact, futile? Or does it add another layer of flavor, perhaps an “acquired taste”?
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