Freak Kitchen

Freak Kitchen sounds like a high-speed collision between a world-class jazz fusion clinic and a gritty hard rock basement show. The music is anchored by Mattias IA Eklundh's singular guitar voice, which favors bizarre harmonics and percussive tapping over standard blues scales. Despite the technical complexity, the songs are surprisingly accessible, often featuring massive pop-inflected choruses and tight three-part vocal harmonies that recall the Beatles if they had grown up on a diet of heavy metal.

What truly sets them apart is their 'freak' philosophy. They are a power trio that sounds twice their size, blending biting social commentary with a sense of humor that is rare in the often-serious world of progressive music. You might hear a song about the soul-crushing nature of corporate life followed immediately by a track featuring Indian Selvaganesh percussion or a guitar solo played with a vibrating toy. It is music that refuses to be bored or boring.

Start with 'Appetizer' for their raw, early energy or 'Cooking With Pagans' to hear their most refined blend of heavy grooves and satirical songwriting. It is the perfect entry point for anyone who loves the technicality of Steve Vai but wishes the songs had more bite and a better sense of irony.