#Gaupa #doom metal #psychedelic rock #stoner metal #progressive rock #folk metal #Swedish
Gaupa has already been described as "Bjork fronting a rock band" and although we can see where that description is coming from there is far more to Gaupa than an unusual and unique voice placed in front of a rock'n'roll backdrop. First thing one notices about Gaupa (the band) are the levels of musicianship on display here; solid, tight percussion combined with deep growling bass lines are the backbone around which Gaupa's two guitarists lay down diverse washes of delightful and dynamic six-string colouring, the pair not so much going head to head as complimenting each other with a mixture of eastern motifs, shimmering arpeggios, crunching heavy powerchords and scorching psychedelic lead work. However it is the vocal acrobatics of Emma Näslund that many will leave this EP remembering long after the last note of "Gaupa" fades into silence. Näslund has a unique tone and delivery and it is easy to see why those comparisons with Iceland's elfish chanteuse have been made as both singers have that same distinctive vocal elasticity in their armoury, however where Bjork's voice sometimes wanders into shrillness there is a smoother more fluid timbre to Näslund's vocals that is, for us, far more pleasing and easier on the ear. From: http://stonerking1.blogspot.com/2018/07/gaupa-gaupa-review.html
An amalgam of psychedelic rock, stoner metal, and doom metal with female lead vocals. It's a style that many bands have played in the 2010's, especially following the success of Jex Thoth and Blood Ceremony. Gaupa pursue generally the same style as those bands, though with their own nice little nuances. There is a nice balance between calm, drifting psychedelic sections, and abrasive, rocking doom and stoner metal pounding. A nice, thick bass line carries fluid, desert-ish guitar leads, which sounds very atmospheric. What truly gives the band their identity is the vocal style of Emma Näslund. If you go on the group's bandcamp page, you'll see that they are all comparing her style to that of Björk and they are absolutely right. "Psychedelic/Stoner/Doom Rock with Bjork on vocals" all I can say is hell yeah. The singing is awesome. She does ethereal chants, crazy shouts, enunciates words playfully and gently, she sounds awesome. She really adds that quirk to the music that helps the band stand out, especially on the playful rocker track 'The Drunk Autopussy Wants to Fight You (perhaps one of the best song titles ever). From: https://rateyourmusic.com/release/ep/gaupa/gaupa/
