Friko offer larger-than-life ambition on Something Worth Waiting For

When Friko burst onto the Hallogallo scene, they stood apart from their contemporaries for their vibrant indie rock, one that explosively oscillates between ornate chamber pop and fiercely raucous riffage. For anyone who adores that guitar storytelling genre, it’s a concoction that those trained ears are sure to love. It’s the echoes of mid-2000s and even late ‘90s indie rock darlings, where the uplifting poetry is largely conveyed by a steel-string, or hundreds of them messily layered into a blanket of immensely comforting sound. Friko’s effortless achievement of that sensibility made their breakthrough debut album, Where We’ve Been, Where We Go from Here, such a spectacle – and the band’s prospects too.

So, a couple of years later, following illuminating praise and resultant vigorous world touring, they’ve arrived at Something Worth Waiting For. The record seems to wrestle with the strangeness that comes with change. It’s their first as a four-piece – vocalist/guitarist Niko Kapetan and drummer Bailey Minzenberger are now joined by their touring members, guitarist Korgan Robb and bassist David Fuller, fortifying their musical backbone, which was already remarkably strong with Kapetan and Minzenberger originally solely at the helm. The strength in numbers has made harnessing their cathartic propensity easier, no longer worrying as much about the complexity that earned them their laurels. In other words, their new songs are more sonically straightforward.

For a record principally about being in a transitory state, perhaps it’s in the band’s best interest not to overcomplicate the subject, so the relatability with this universal dilemma can stay intact. Friko’s newly uncomplicated power pop is especially effective for this purpose – the album’s opening trio of songs, “Guess”, “Still Around”, and “Choo Choo”, are some of the band’s liveliest by far, each still embracing the core theme of navigating change. The dynamic language of a roaring electric guitar with breaks for explosive feedback really stretches Friko’s upwards trajectory, and Kapetan’s enigmatic, straining falsetto is the cherry on top of this grandiose musical concord.

Even so, while certainly thrilling, it’s at the expense of the intricate intensity that put Friko on the map in the first place. When they dive into a singer/songwriter symphonic quality on quieter cuts “Certainty” and closer “Dear Bicycle”, the latter the standout for its solemn march away from the previous lofty indie rock, the astonishing poignancy in this contrasting atmosphere leaves one yearning for more of this “less is more” emotional impact. There’s a finite earnestness in ceaseless, optimistic riffs.

Don’t be mistaken, Friko’s incredibly visceral musicianship is undeniable on Something Worth Waiting For. The title is indicative of the music: Friko’s evolution remains hotly anticipated, but this iteration could lean more toward their vital orchestral intricacy. With how much groundwork they’ve already laid, Friko can afford to conduct themselves more lightly this time, but there are promises from their introduction that we’re still waiting for.