Ribozyme
Presenting the Problem

Norweigian trio Ribozyme has presented a problem to us, involving complex dna and rna probably, and it's up to me to present a solution. This problem has ten sub-problems, which in disguised in melodic rock music with an apocalyptic feel and dystopic mood - all delivered as one big electronic death trap. This is music that feels like more than just music, if you follow me? Ribozyme gives us one big package of everything, with much more than just wrapping around a box - this Norweigian gift is like christmas and birthday at the same time, at least if you're in to this kind of semi-industrial hard rock because you will find this problem more alluring than studying a GIR1 branching ribozyme.

The cover of 'Presenting The Problem' is a little problem of its own, immediately setting the standard for this album and what you will get. There's four small photos (credited as NASA-photos), an EAN-code, full credits for the album and cover design as well as a complete tracklist. The background is grey, but there's a white line pattern in the background, forming some sort of strange circle (perhaps some sort of ribozyme?) and I guess it all means something, but it's just like with the music - not exactly the easiest thing to know what that could be. But at the same time, I can't help feeling that this is one of the big benefits when it comes to this album - to be thrown in to the unknown and figure around what this album means because understanding that takes a hell of a lot longer than playing through these 39 minutes and ten songs.

Reflecting around the albums I've heard from 2012, I have to say I feel 'Presenting The Problem' is easily one of the most amusing albums so far. I've played this album much since receiving it but despite this I can't really say I have something evident to say about it. It's heavy, but at the same time very easy to play which is strange because despite the complex nature of this album, I still think it suits to be played almost anywhere and at any occasion. However, it's not an album that drops quality in time, quite the opposite, I think it's an album that stands the test of time and runs very well and this despite lacking hit songs and songs that distinguish themselves from the rest. I guess, when it comes to albums with this high quality overall, it's just not important.

You might think that I feel this album is very innovative and unique, but really I don't think it is. I feel most of sthe material is familiar to me in some way already the first few times I play the album, but I'm quite sure I've never heard this kind of music be played with such a precision because there's not much on this album that I question or feel that I need to question. The tempo is varied with a foundation in calmer, slower music that's very comfortable to play and on top of this they have a really heavy bass and quite heavy drums as well. Then there's faster songs as well, such as Leverage and Scale Of Values where they go from a organized chaos with a post-apocalyptic feel in to more of an ongoing apocalyptic chaos. I think the conclusion in The Bricks Went Flying is a symbolic way to end this… not just the album, but this entire planet. This entire problem. Fade to black, to be continued… (or will it?)

My opinion is clear about this being one of the best albums of 2012, and despite that I didn't feel all six H's were absolutely certain, I feel that Ribozyme deserves them with this album. It's undoubtedly one interesting album from cover to conclusion and I think it's an album that doesn't settle with appealing fans of modern or industrial hard rock, but plenty of others as well. The quality is useless to question and the interest hasn't faded despite running well over double figures, so it's a problem that probably will last equal to the time it takes to study a really complexed piece of ribozyme. Ribozyme has presented the problem, will you solve it?