Sometimes, the simplest of projects can be all one needs to scratch any particular itch that one may have. For some time now, I’ve been hurting from some good-quality instrumental metal. Nothing that reinvents the wheel or attempts to be anything more than necessary, but something that simply comes forward, speaks its piece and does nothing more than provide a good time. Such an itch demands that I keep my eyes peeled from all sides since anything can come at any moment from the most unlikely of places. With its first creation but a humble EP, Noorag came out of nowhere to offer me a scratch that more than sufficed.

There’s nothing quite like a demo for a band to lay forth its foundations without any sort of expectations in place. It allows the band to truly do what they want in any capacity with anything possible, and it was with that opportunity which the one-man band of Noorag sought to bring forth a vision that is admittedly simple but no less effective. A collection of riffs and voiceless bouts that never once go over three minutes in all seven of its tracks, I would forgive anyone for initially dismissing “Fossils” as no more than a man’s mere jam sessions put online but I think there’s quality here that deserves to be lauded. Never once does Noorag overstay its welcome as these riffs are precise and well-timed as they flow seamlessly into the next rhythm that’s always littered with immense hooks and more than enough intrigue to catch the attention of anyone who simply wants to throw on something to jam out to and go. While not a deep creation by virtually every stretch of the imagination, what Noorag has laid down with “Fossils” is a solid base for whatever is to come next as while some may try to bite off more than they can chew with their first demo, it already feels as though Noorag is perfectly at home with all that has been brought forth in this demo. It’s not much, but it is all it needs to be for sometimes less is more, and simple yet straightforward can be the most effective approach.

Demos like this are always fun little treats that I think many tend to dismiss all to quickly even if I can understand why. Noorag has not done anything to rock the boat or put together material that truly boggles the mind, but there is always something to be said for a creation that manages to simply do what it will, be what it be, and deliver a straightforward performance that never once overstays. Noorag’s beginnings are the definition of humble while never once being something to dismiss easily.

LISTEN to “Fossils” on Bandcamp here.

Noorag has no social media presence from what I could find, so please follow Noorag on Bandcamp to stay up-to-date on future releases from the act.