Blending harmony and cataclysm, Animatone‘s Soul Moments holds curiosity and exploration in its palms.

The love child of two friends, Animatone is Zoltán Szécsi and Bernát Kiss from Hungary. Both having graduated with a major in Jazz guitar, the two continue their musical careers with Bernát as a session musician, and Zoltán as a music producer. Inspired by their jazz roots, the pair mix in their foundations with the flair of rock and metal, while touching upon modern inspirations and electronic music innovations. Defined in openness and excitement, Animatone strive to take fans on a journey rather than offering a track by track stand-alone experience.

Their EP, Soul Moments, is a creative project where friends are invited to participate in a song here and there, or linger long-term. Tracks like Altus and Platonic are collaborations as such, featuring the talents of István Szolnoki joining in.

We step foot outside our doorway to embrace “Emotion Dislexia“; a track that remarks the moments that one’s life seem to spiral out of control. Whether by mental illness, a big decision, or otherwise, this track takes on the waves of turmoil we encounter when we’re not sure just what we’re feeling.

It runs on jazz foundations, with that slow, signature harmonization playing in immediately. However, once the guitars pick up, the vibe changes almost instantly. The smooth jazz becomes disfigured, ruptured by string-slinging lows that reverberate sadness before the weighed percussion brings in shrouds of rage and frustration. At just over 5 minutes, this track is a seamless example of how human emotion can twist and turn on a dime. Moments of pleasure and reassurance turn to reflection and chaos that’s amplified by Animatone‘s meticulous ability to jump form one note to another; while still crafting a stunning melody. The mix of highs and lows is divine, proving their musical skillset is one to be watched.

“Altus” (meaning “height” and “depth” in Latin simultaneously) moves in on the dynamics of relationships where there are ups and downs but also extremes. It’s a cryptic track built on complex melody with curious quips picking at your brain. Solid guitars stride in on high notes before smoldering away into inquisitive glances and unanswered questions. It’s a story that’s as puzzling as its inspirations, coursing through us on rigid highs and unwavering lows that mimic everything from proposals to betrayers whilst still solidifying a constant, steady rhythm throughout.

This track is beautiful in its willingness to explore a multitude of genres to ensure their dynamics are understood. The swift riffs, exuding emotional turmoil, while the water-like sounds of calm and quick jazz bring peace and clarity to eyesight of crimson red. It’s an absolute on this EP, and one not to be missed for a moment of its 6:30-minute length.

“Dreaming About Jump” is envisioning your upward momentum when you’ve hit rock bottom. it’s the shortest track on the EP at just under 3 minutes in length, but still captures emotions with ease. Like closing your eyes to return to a perpetual dream, the notes on this track chime like small bells, peculiar, yet fitting. They touch upon the inquisitiveness and complication whilst the metal riff work compliment confidence and idea. Blending to define further vividness, this track takes a simple concept and expands it with flawless melody and touching sound.

For completion, we meet with “Platonic“, touching upon platonic connection before the return to reality. This song belts out a myriad of inspirations from rock and ballad-like guitars to the tense drums and solid bass lines, expressing a range of connections from admiration to friendship. It sparks on high notes for fun and adventure, while calming on memory and laughter as if taking us through an old photo album or camera roll.

I adore how exquisite each detail is, from the changing jazz-like bass, to the frightening guitars that bring calamity and anxiety; it’s all so intricately woven. Electronic notes expand upon star-shattered skylines while an echo of unseens braces us through steadily moving drums. It’s layered from beginning to end, leaving no voids and no emotions unexplored as we fall away from our dreams to once more face reality.

Animatone is not simply a creative project, it is an experience. From the very moment this EP begins, we are tempered to embrace fear, falter and fury. Tackling human emotion and momentum while coupling it with jazz’s smoothness, and metal’s expressive sound, Soul Moments is an unstoppable journey. The musical devotion that cascades from masterful sounds to atmospheric tension and dynamic transitions is flawless. Each track is articulated to tell the piece of a story and it’s so well-crafted that it’s hard not to visualize by simply closing your eyes.

You can check-out the entire EP via their Bandcamp, and stay up-to-date on news and more by following Animatone on Facebook.