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Right from track one I know that these guys are different. In
this one song so many things are just done so correctly, from
the intensity of the chorus to the measured rhythm of the drums;
everything just meshes into a coherently diverse and beautiful
tapestry of sound. It is these elements of differentiation that
really lock it in for me with this band - so many variations in
theme and tempo within each song show me there is more here than
I could ever scratch the surface of with description.
I imagine this is what Queensryche would have sounded
like if they had evolved past the late eighties and survived the
alternative nineties, picking up a lot of lessons learned. Needless
to say, this music is epic and accessible at the same time, covering
vast themes that strike a chord in all of us. While on the whole
the material is of a harder edge, it is the alternating of the
cultured lead vocal and well placed growl of the backing that
give a greater sense of spectrum.
Production is perfect providing all of the emphasis to carry
the changes and accent each instrument's powers and balancing
them against the whole. Drums show considerable restraint in giving
the backbone to songs, yet throwing in occasion interesting riffs
that show there is more there. Guitars have the greatest impact
in the overall atmosphere of individual songs and adequately mix
up the feeling with effect choices throughout. Vocals and backing
dance delicately giving energy and hooks to already solid material,
particularly emphasized within breaks and changes. And on top
of that they throw in a subtle influencing keyboard that mostly
sticks to the background, filling nuances to further stick the
points of songs home.
Back to front, this is a good album, which has great production,
great material and a truly talented band to carry it forth. You
should check it out.
-bishop
Track listing:
1) So Cold I Could See My Breath
2) Playing With Fire
3) Returning The Smile You Have Had From The Start
4) Studying Politics
5) Left With Alibis And Lying Eyes
6) Listening To Freddie Mercury
7) The Weakest
8) Miss Behavin'
9) In Between 4th And 2nd Street
10) The Terrible Secret
11) In A Lose, Lose Situation
12) In A Win, Win Situation
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