A combination of epic cinematic styles, hard rock, ballads, choirs and basically every genre of music that has ever fallen upon this planet seeps into my ears and I start to wonder if I’ve misunderstood the meaning of my life as I listen to song after song. This perhaps may be the best music I’ve ever listened to in my life and I instantly know that I’ve been hooked. Bad.

Each song is different, with the same soulful, enigmatic sounds that transport me across the universe to where the story takes place. This kind of music sounds like something from a soundtrack to a great movie, but instead I found out that it was composed and sung by only three people in an underrated but absolutely amazing band.

It all starts with E.S. Posthumus when Franz Vonlitchen, brother of Helmut Vonlitchen, died in May 2010. Helmut, having been previously collaborating with his brother on their cinematic music project E.S. Posthumus, he left and in November 2011, Les Friction was born. With lead singer Paint and composers Helmut and Nihl Finch, the three joined forces to create their first self-titled debut album, “Les Friction”, which was released Jan. 24, 2012. Released with the instrumental bonus tracks version, the album was titled as an alternative genre, and given by customers an overall 4.5 stars on iTunes.

It remains a mystery to fans why the band was so considered to be so good but yet not recognized for their great musical works. Questions, such as, “When will your next album come out?” as well as- No, wait. That’s basically the one question that fans seem to ask.

The album’s first single “Torture” with guitarist Bruce Watson, released before the official album was, can only be explained as melodic in the beginning and then it grows as the tempo picks up little by little. Paint’s voice compliments perfectly with the emotion that was called upon with the lyrics, that he’s scared of what he has to do and end the relationship.

The second single “Louder Than Words”  begins with a choir in the background and tiny swells in the music as Paint joins in, creating a deeply moving song as his voice takes your breath away. The music afterwards sounds like a chant, a cry, but a very beautifully orchestrated cry that I felt compelled to join in with.

The third and final single “Here Comes the Reign” starts off with the same words repeated over and over again “Everyone run, here come’s the reign” until the music hits it off again and goes into the electronic swells that sounds like the music of the future.

“What You Need” is the first song of the album, a happier ballad with soft drums and piano accompanying Paint as he sings a more romantic song than the previous three intense songs.

Meanwhile “World on Fire” sounds like a very epic song for a trailer or soundtrack for a movie, with just the right amount of electronic and bass drops to give me chills down my spine and goosebumps on my arms. The song as a whole sounds full of promise as Paint promises to protect his girl through whatever may happen to them both.

“Save Your Life,” filled with short bursts of guitar and drums and beats in the background to Paint’s singing, is about him going to help his girl anyway he can but that she has to trust him in order for him to do so.

“Sunday” is a faster paced ballad about a girl who wonders if she will ever meet the boy of her dreams and that they’ll live everyday like “Sunday,” implying that they’ll get married and live like it’s always their wedding day.

Easing into the song slowly with a piano accompaniment  “String Theory” is a sad song about regret and how everyone ended up in the end because love couldn’t fit inside a mere “theory” on how they got there.

“Come Back to Me” feat. Emily Valentine is a song of longing, pain, and regret as she and Paint whisk you away with the lyrics and the choir singing in the background. You get a clear glimpse of what the song is really about: Helmut losing his brother Franz and him having to accept that reality.

“Who Will Save You Now” is the following single after the album was released and was given 5 stars by customers on iTunes. Up to the halfway mark of the song, soft piano accompanies Paint as he sings up until the middle where the music gives way to the same immensity of music as the album had previously showed us.

The second following single after the album, “Firewall” was given 5 stars and is a spectacular distraction from the question at hand on when the band will be returning with their next highly anticipated album. However, Paint shows us of just how good of a singer he really is as he sings about becoming the Bird of Phoenix rising out his fiery home. The music runs perfectly with his voice and once again, like with “World on Fire”, I had chills running down my spine as I took in this out-of-this-world experience.

“Les Friction” as a whole album can be bought with both vocals and instrumental versions for $9.99, and each individual song is .99 cents. “Who Will Save You Now” and “Firewall” can be found as singles and bought for .99 cents as well.

Back in January, 2013, the Les Friction page was updated, saying “The guys are hard at work on the next record!” confirming that work on the next album had begun. As usual, the one question that fans have been asking ever since the last single was released is once again circulating in their minds:

But just when is Les Friction coming back?

We can only remain hopeful that their next album will be just as good as this one had been, if not even better.

by CHRISTINA VASILENKO