Aghori Mhori Mei

オルタナティブロック界のレジェンドバンド、The Smashing Pumpkins(ザ・スマッシング・パンプキンズ)が通算13作目となるアルバム『Aghori Mhori Mei』(アゴーリ・モーリ・メイ)をリリース。本作には、オリジナルメンバーのジミー・チェンバレン、ジェイムス・イハ、そしてビリー・コーガンが参加。ギターやベース、ドラム、そこに切り込むボーカルが圧倒する、彼らの90年代初期を思い出させるような作品である。昨年2023年、バンドは1995年の『Mellon Collie And The Infinite Sadness』と2000年の『Machina / The Machine Of God』の続編となる、壮大かつ冒険的なロックオペラ作品『ATUM』の最終章となる第3幕をリリース。3枚組アルバムの制作を終えるや否や、フロントマンのビリー・コーガンは本作の制作に取り掛かり、大規模なツアーの傍ら本作のレコーディングを完了させた。

Smashing Pumpkins evince the romantic sonic pummel of their early work on their twelfth studio album, 2024s Aghori Mhori Mei. Much the same could be said of 2023s Atum, which was itself a spiritual sequel to both 1995s Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness and 2000s MACHINA: The Machines of God. Yet, where Atum was an unwieldy three-disc production that explored an array of sounds from guitar rock to dreamlike synthscapes, Aghori Mhori Mei is an enticingly sinewy listen at ten songs. While not directly connected to any of the bands past recordings, the albums intimations to Hinduism, Greek mythology, and classic horror cinema combined with the guitar-heavy atmosphere certainly evokes classic productions like Gish and Siamese Dream. Perhaps some of the feeling of a return to the Pumpkins core sound is the presence of original members drummer Jimmy Chamberlin and guitarist James Iha; the latter returned to the fold in 2018. Gone this time is guitarist Jeff Schroeder, who ended his surprisingly long 17-year tenure with the band in 2023. While this is actually Iha and Chamberlins fourth album since reuniting with singer/guitarist Billy Corgan, it is the first to feel like a complete return to the Zeppelin-esque guitar majesty that drove their initial efforts. This is true even as Corgan has long embraced a more Teutonic, grayscale version of the groups gothy, psychedelic rock. That said, much of Aghori Mhori Mei sounds a heckuva lot like classic Smashing Pumpkins with searing guitar riffs and roaring melodies delivered in Corgans distinctive style; his vocals move from wistful coos to throaty sneers in a heartbeat. Tracks like "Edin," "Pentagrams," and "Sighommi" crackle with a dark rock magic, their anthemic melodies spinning on the knifes edge of the bands electric guitar wallop. Equally engaging, cuts like "Who Goes There" and "Goeth the Fall" summon the same kind of bittersweet and cinematic pop grandeur of fan favorite songs like "Today," "Tonight, Tonight," and "1979." Ever the goth poet, Corgans lyrics often sound (in a good way) like hes cribbing lines he half-remembers from a book of occult esoterica. Its an endearing quality, one that pulls at your emotional inner teenager and conjures images of a younger Corgan scribbling florid verse in notebooks to later burn in the heat of the Smashing Pumpkins rock flame. Its a history he seems to invoke on "Goeth the Fall," singing "Salvation builds that pyre/Tis plunder for the kids." With Aghori Mhori Mei, Corgan and the Smashing Pumpkins have made an album for those grown-up kids, their fans; a rock & roll pyre lit with myth and memory. ~ Matt Collar

スマパンってこんなにハード・ロッキンだったっけ!? 壮大なロック・オペラだった前作から一転、オールドスクールかつギター・オリエンテッドなロックを志向した13作目。なかにはメタル特有のスラッシーなクランチ・リフが飛び出す曲も! 物議を醸しそうだが、メランコリックでダークな曲調やスパイスとして効かせたプログレの要素は、やはりスマパンならではだろう。
bounce (C)山口智男