|
Ladyfinger (ne), the (ne) standing for Nebraska where the
band originates, have a modern rock sound with a profusion of retro
rock intonations reminiscent of Chris Cornell, particularly
in the dark echo of lead vocalist Chris Machmuller's register,
which even turns as dark as a cavernous resonance relatable to Ozzy
Osbourne on some tracks. The rumbling beats of bassist Ethan
Jones and drummer Pat Oakes display a West Coast-based
heavy metal thrusting as guitarists Jamie Massey and Machmuller
create blustering riffs reminiscent of Dave Navarro's work
in The Panic Channel. The greatest compliment is that the album
billows with a Cornell-style grunt and the soaring patterns reflective
of Navarro, but the worst thing about the album is that there isn't
much diversity in the tracks to distinguish them. The album is like
one long riff which causes the album to stand in one place. It becomes
a bit stifling for the listener, who can sense that there is potential
in this band laying dormant on this album.
Dusk is Ladyfinger (ne)'s second full-length record following
their debut album, Heavy Hands and their self-titled EP. They've
been honing their chops in the trenches of the indie rock market,
and there they became acquainted with record producer Matt Bayles
(Mastodon, Minus the Bear, Isis) who produced
both Heavy Hands and Dusk. Their new album opens with
a spread of vintage metal tunage gassing up tracks like "Over
And Over" and "A.D.D." as Machmuller's vocals punch
out with an iron-fisted hammering. The valleys and peaks along "Little
Things" build up to a swath of muscular guitar shreds moving
like guided missiles racing across the grumbling blusters produced
by the rhythmic beats as Machmuller's vocals latch onto the metal-fringed
hooks. The center of the album begins to repeat these patterns in
"Two Years," "Read The Will," and "World
Party." It causes the listener to feel lost, thinking that these
tracks are an endless stream of recurring sequences. The following
number "Bones" has a punk-inspired pogo pouncing, which
sets it apart from the other tracks and a guitar solo that can shatter
glass. "Plans" has a marching band-stylized drumming in
the intro, which segues into the band's usual heady rumbling and fomenting
guitar shreds. The final two tracks "Let's Get Married"
and "Born In The Eighties" are equally metal-encrusted tunes
with soaring riffs and fiery vocals inflicting harsh thuds ramming
into the melodies with the weight of a mallet.
Ladyfinger (ne)'s latest album Dusk revives the metal madness
equated with Ozzy, Cornell and Navarro. The band's weakest part is
their repetitiveness, which causes the listener to [almost] feel stifled
as the band stalls at times, preventing them from moving forward.
If the band can break through these impasses and flex their muscles
a little more, they could be as big as Metallica were in the
'90s, or at least that is the direction that their music is heading
them towards.
-Susan Frances
Check out more
reviews
 Talk
Back
e-mail the chief
Like this article?
e-mail
it to a friend!
|
Ladyfinger
(ne) 
