Band:	Fluxious
Album:	Nucleus Accumbens Diseases
Style:	Fusion, Progressive metal
Release date:	October 21, 2014
A review by:	Ivor

01. Dark Sun
02. Happy World
03. In Cage
04. Their Rules [feat. Cyril Zardé]
05. Raven
06. Freaks
07. Block Out
08. New Level [feat. Asphodel]
09. Equality

Fluxious's début album Why So Serious? was a bit of an acquired taste and, with all its flaws and virtues, it turned out to be an either love or hate affair for some. Mixing jazz and metal, it was not a seamless blend of the two genres but had a sort of dichotomy going. Its appeal lied in contrasting patterns of both worlds that manifested itself in song structures, vocal lines as well as the overall feeling. The follow-up to this début is something I've been eagerly expecting for a while now.

Being appreciative of the first album, I have issues with this release. On the one hand it's a sound effort that tries to improve on the formula of the début, and succeeds in making the steps in the desired direction. On the other hand, it's so not what I was hoping for in the overall feeling, which doesn't imply that the album is unappealing or that I don't like it. However, it is a very fine line to draw between what it is and what I wanted or needed it to be.

Nucleus Accumbens Diseases is a smoother sounding record by a large margin, and therein lies the problem. It seems that the band has taken a step in the direction of a better fusion of jazz and metal, laying a foundation on the traits of these that fit together, rather than on the contrasting qualities of the two genres. It does make for a better flowing album, but it also takes away the magic of navigating the differences in the underlying dissimilar currents. What before sounded like a mix of jazz and metal, now resembles a metal record with jazz elements. It's a fine distinction to make.

Focusing more on metal structures is also emphasized by the guest growls of the Pin-Up Went Down ex-vocalist Asphodel. Her appearance makes me question the motives of the band, though. It's not like the music was in particular need of growls. Being featured only in one song, they really tend to feel out of place in the context of the whole record. There's either too much or too little of them and I'm leaning towards the former.

Overall, Nucleus Accumbens Diseases improves in quite some areas over Why So Serious?, including Joana's vocals. If you don't know the band then this is likely a good album to start with. If you kind of liked the first album but felt it to be too disjoint, this would likely suit you better. If, however, you're looking for the magic of the début, I'm afraid it's not going to strike the same chord with you.