REVIEWS:

Review from HeavyMetal Resource:

HYBRID FREAK DIVISION - Non Conformative

Hybrid Freak Division is one of Lion Music's signings. There is a lot of talent flying around in this band, but that shouldn't come as much of a surprise if you are familiar with Lion Music's roster. Anyway, this is an instrumental release showcasing 8 tracks of fusion based rock music. Now while this bands music is gonna be an acquired taste, those who like this sort of music will probably find a lot to like. The music is presented with various influences such as Funk and Jazz. And there is quite a bit of that to be found on tracks like the opener 'Riot', the comically titled 'Poon-Tang Twostep', 'While you were sleeping', and 'Paddington'. The one thing to keep in mind with this band is they are a rock band and that influence is definitely woven throughout the album with those other influences added in. Musically,
as mentioned before, these guys are good at what they do and there approach to the songwriting.

Overall I already mentioned this being an instrumental album of fusion based rock music, that it may not appeal to all. If this is your thing, I think these guys are definitely sound and will be regarded highly by the fans of this particular genre. Decent record for sure!

review from DisAgreement, Luxembourg:

HYBRID FREAK DIVISION - Non Conformative

8 songs 33:46 minutes ***** *** Lion Bandpage

It really takes you back to the Seventies, listening to Hybrid Freak Division, but in a good way. Non Conformative, their debut album, portrays this Swedish band as a typical power trio, but once you start listening to their music, you feel like eating a stew where the cook became manic and threw everything possible in the pot. The opener Riot starts out in a very progressive way, before the album flows into fantastically played instrumental fusion rock. Normally this is a music I don't like too much, but HFD go at it with such a fierce energy that you just have to like it. Influenced by jazz legends like Jaco Pastorious and John Scofield, with a solid background in heavy metal music, HFD draw a bridge between the jazz rock of the Seventies and the modern progressive bands of today. The drums are playing a very freely structured rhythm, the guitar is soloing most of the time, and the bass guitar understands perfectly to fill the gap between the percussive rhythms and the guitar melodies. It's funky, it's jazzy, and it rocks. About the production, I can say on the one hand that it's sounding very raw and basic, but on the other hand, that's what gives Non Conformative its freshness, its vitality. The sound may not be what you are used to nowadays, but it makes you feel as if this is a live recording, and you are standing right there in the front row. With a playing time of less than 34 minutes, you might wonder if they shouldn't have stayed a bit longer in the studio to record some more songs, but the 8 tracks that are offered here are well worth it anyway.

HYBRID FREAK DIVISION - NON CONFORMATIVE

Kinda hard to guess what kind of sound one should expect from the band, isn’t it? Well, both band name and album title are appropriate for this Swedish instrumental 3-piece outfit. The band is a hybrid of prog rock and jazz fusion formed in 2000 by three highly skilled musicians each with formal musical education. Bassist Pär Laurén and guitarist Fredrik Andersson have been playing bass and regular guitar since the ages of 14 and 13, respectively, and drummer Björn Nyberg has sat on his throne since kindergarten. Together, the band can claim a collective musical experience totaling well over 50 years.

Though the members of the band have played together previously in a jazz band led by a Hungarian saxophonist named Janos Nemeth, NON-CONFORMATIVE is the debut album of Hybrid Freak Division since the formation of HFD in early 2000. Though Hybrid Freak Division does not hit as hard or as heavy as bands such as Spiral Architect, Spastic Ink, or Gordian Knot, the instruments interact very well with each other to weave a tapestry of notes with a number of quirky time
signatures and changes, improvisation, and catchy groove. The great talent of the band is best showcased by the opening track, “Riot,” a chaotic piece of intense bass lines, and jamming drums, stitched by furious technical guitar that is simultaneously catchy and unpredictable. We’re not talking about Malone, Portnoy, and
Jarzombek here, but the three fellows of Hybrid Freak Division have the knack so that each instrument seems to go in its own direction, yet still maintain the integrity and cohesion of the final product. I really love the feeling that comes from NON-CONFORMATIVE; it plays as if it the band were playing live in my stereo.



While I find the tracks on NON-CONFORMATIVE to grow better with each listen, I feel that the band could use a kicked-up tempo, especially on tracks such as “Poon-Tang Twostep,” “While You Were Sleeping,” and “Friday.” I can sit back and enjoy the jazzy groove laid out in “Nippe Signal,” or the complete jam session of “Fahrenhate,” but if the band unloaded with both barrels, as they do on “Riot,” and “Paddington,” this album would be absolutely monstrous. Their label claims them to be a great live band, and this statement I do not doubt in the least. Fans of jazz and technical progressive music should definitely give NON-CONFORMATIVE a listen.
Reviewer: Night of the Realm

Funny. I receive a new stack of promo's. A lot of brutal blasting death metal, violence maxima, but then there's this album by these three Swedish guys, who call themselves the Hybrid Freak Division, a band that started out in the spring of Y2K. They don't play brutal blasting insanity, this is something totally different, and I like different every once in a while! The Hybrid Freak Division is an instrumental band that plays fusion rock. So expect elements of jazz, blues, funk and rock with a progressive all rolled into cool songs. Their bio states that all three musicians studied music on a high level, and you can damn well hear that these guys probably graduated head of their class! The power of this band lies in the steady rhythmsection. Tight and groovy as hell ("On a sinking ship, women and the rhythmsection comes first", heheheh) and the energy that flows out of your speakers is immense, though they play with some sort of simplicity, like it was just meant to be this way. With this comes a virtuous guitarplayer (which the bassplayer and drummer are too, don't get me wrong) who completes the music with his laid back tunes, making you feel at ease. Very varied music in which a lot happens and every second is filled with first class musicianship, ensuring very vivid music that make you wanna move and puts a smile on your face. Most songs have got jazz/funk basis, while others have more of a blues basis and the element of rock peeks around the corner every now and then. You could approach all songs on two different ways. One that all songs have got a steady core around which a lot happens, or two, that all songs started out as jam sessions with a lot of improvisation. The songs almost burst with musicianship and this band keeps you on the edge of your seat. Smooth chills are alterated by a more wild and energetic style of playing. Because of the fact that these guys pack their songs with their skills, you don't miss a vocalist, as this is well compensated by the continuous solo-like guitarplay, the superb drumwork or the heavy grooving bass, something you can compare to The Magic Elf. The production is a bit dry and granular but very well in balance and crystal clear sound. This you might compare a bit to the production of Primus' "Brown Album". Ultra chill 'n groove music that you play on a sunny sunday afternoon sitting close to water with a beer in your hand, smiling and thinking of nothing. Totally at ease, yes! Someting very different from metal but 100% amusing and a very good album! You dig this style or you wanna try something different? Then check out the Hybrid Freak Division with their "Non Conformative" album!   www.vampire-magazine.com

Hybrid Freak Division: Non-Conformative

Findland’s Lion Music continues to church out some of the most fascinating guitar music around. While not all the artists in their stable are as awe-inspiring as, say, OHM, you can at least count on the majority of their catalogue to make you stop and listen twice. Hybrid Freak Division is one of the bands that makes this possible. Here, this three-piece locks into some serious groove and holds on tenaciously, melding funk, jam band music and fusion with authority and grace.

As with any band worth its salt playing this kind of music, Hybrid Freak Division display a sense of humor as they whip up tracks such as “Poon-Tang Twostep,” “Nippe Signal” and others. Gorgeous leads, gorgeous grooves, Hybrid Freak Division is a band that deserves a rabid following. Can’t wait to hear more.

Added: April 15th 2003
Reviewer: Jedd Beaudoin
Score:

www.seaoftranquility.com

Artist: Hybrid Freak Division

Title: Non Conformative

Genre/Styles: Instrumental, Rock, Progressive, Jazz, Blues, Fusion, Surf

Label: Lion Music- www.lionmusic.com

Website: www.lionmusic.com/HFD.htm

What comes to mind when you hear the nameHybrid Freak Division ? My initial thought, as many people would think, is that this is no ordinary band. As it turns out, it is like calling a spade a spade as it were. They are anything but normal.

 Here is the definition of each word as found in the dictionary:

Hybrid-Offspring or genetically different parents

 Freak-Something abnormal or unusual

Division - Distribution, part of a whole, disagreement, process of finding out how many times one number is contained in another</I>.

Put that all together and you have what Fredrik Andersson (guitar), Pär Laurén (bass) and Björn Ny (drums) are, a <I>Hybrid Freak Division</I>. This is a trio of magnificent musicians. It may sound confusing, but it all becomes clear once you hear their music.

 The title of their album says it all…“Non Conformative.” Not only is the name of the band brilliant, so is the title of the album. I have to say it right off the bat; I loved this album from start to finish. This CD is full of the kind of improvisational instrumental bliss that is to die for, and I mean that. I heard literally every genre that I enjoy in this music. In a word, they do not conform to any standard or pattern when they assemble their music.

 On a concrete base of jazz, the rest of this musical monument is built, and with the care and precision of union mason. From the center of the jazz core, layers of rock, blues, and some surf, which may even surprise the band that I mentioned that, arrive melded into a definitive and focused creation of improvised fusion. I notice in most of the tracks there were parts that sounded like they needed to be in a much faster tempo, but your ears adjust and you begin to realize what is going on. The tunes were indeed, slowed down intentionally. Playing music in odd time signatures is one of the earmarks of progressive music, and jazz was the genus that started it all. This approach creates an effect that forces you to pay attention to every twist and turn going on in the song. It works, because I really did notice of a lot idiosyncrasies within each composition, which I would not have if it were in normal time.

 File this CD under progressive rock-jazz and stick it in between your King Crimson and Frank Zappa CDs.

©"Keith "MuzikMan" Hannaleck

March 26, 2003

  Hybrid Freak Division 'Non Conformative'

2003 | Lion Music | Reviewer: Justin Donnelly

Swedish jazz/rock/fusion trio Hybrid Freak Division was formed in 2000 by guitarist Fredrik Andersson, bass player Pär Laurén and drummer Björn Nyberg. The power trio’s debut album ‘Non Conformative’ is an eclectic mix of funk, rock, jazz and fusion. While most who are uninitiated in this style of music would instantly turn away from such a combination, this is something quite different. The members seem to be aware that in order to keep an audience interested (Aside from hard core fans of this kind of music), you have to have some sort of structure, and an emphasis of a hook for people to grab onto. The opening number ‘Riot’ is a prime example of giving the listener an underlining beat to listen out for, and the bulk of that can be attributed to Laurén’s rumbling bass line. Andersson’s progressive inspired lead work is in stark contrast as he wails over the top, while Nyberg is keeping the balancing act between the two with his own distinctive style.
‘Poon-Tang Twostep’ is from a whole different mindset with it's laid back pace, but still offers some interesting moments in both technique and style. The title track is something all together different in its approach, with all three moving around in thei different patterns, but still maintaining some course of cohesion.
There’s some funky bass lines and simple guitar notes in ‘Fahrenhate’, but again the contrast in the heavy structure of ‘Nippe Signal’ proves the trio have given themselves the most fitting name as a band.
There’s a slight folk/country feel to ‘While You Were Sleeping’, and Nyberg’s drum sounds similar to the heavy-handed approach of John Bonham.
‘Paddington’ is a lightning paced number, while the closing number ‘Friday’ stays within the jazz confides, but adds a slight blues touch with Andersson’s lead work.
With ‘Non Conformative’, Hybrid Freak Division has created something that goes beyond the standard jazz format. There’s a real improvised and live feel to the material (Which might explain the differing recording levels between songs), and therefore adds an injection of life to the music.
The old saying about not judging a book by its cover truly is the case with this album. ‘Non Conformative’ comes highly recommended to both practicing musicians and instrumental album fans alike.