|
 TIDES FROM NEBULA – Aura
(Independent)
Who Goes There?: Four Polish shoe-gazers who bonded in early 2008 over a shared fear of vocals.
How Goes It?: Tides From Nebula play completely instrumental music that nods its head to a variety of similarly voiceless influences. Using the take-slow-melodies-and-build-into-a-crescendo-of-distorted-riffs-and-cymbals, rinse and repeat formula, the band still manage to inject some original elements into the mix. This occurs by allowing the bass to shine where others tend to hide it behind root notes, and taking the heavier parts to the next level whilst still leaving a pathway back to beauty and space. For fans of quality introspective instrumentalism, Tides From Nebula will earn your future attention with this debut album.
Sounds Like: Explosions In The Sky / And So I Watched You From Afar / Mono
****½
 NARROWS – New Distances
(Deathwish/Stomp)
Who Goes There?: This American quintet are an all-star cast of individuals responsible for some of the heaviest, innovative and abrasive music around.
How Goes It?: With a resume which notes Botch, Some Girls and Tropics as past experience, it’s easy to get excited about Narrow’s debut album. Thankfully the band don’t disappoint and skillfully meld bleak, scathing noise into a recognizable format, which is then turned on its head by time-changes and the occasional delve into melodies crafted by the devil’s backing band. That said, this ain’t metal kids! This is the thinking-man’s heavy poison of choice – toxic, dark and angry as fuck.
Sounds Like: These Arms Are Snakes / Botch / Coliseum
***½
 ELLINGTON – More Like A Movie, Less Like Real Life
(Independent)
Who Goes There?: From Tannum Sands to Brisbane, Ellington are two young gents who play quality emo-pop above their current environment.
How Goes it?; These boys must sleep, eat and breath harmonies. From start to finish, More Like A Movie, Less Like Real Life is a driving slab of emotional-pop that is infectious and both layered yet simplistic in an endearing kind of way. Happily they avoid stimulating the epiglottis as other similar bands have a tendency to do after one or two songs. These factors combined with a complex and full production ensure that you won’t be pressing skip anytime soon.
Sounds Like: Copeland / Jimmy Eat World / Death Cab For Cutie
***
CITY ESCAPE – Avalanches
(Taperjean/Shock)
Who Goes There?: City Escape are a post-everything quartet from not so sunny Melbourne.
How Goes It?: If Closure In Moscow’s signing to Equal Vision and Parkway Drive’s international success wasn’t proof enough that Australian heavy music is on par with the rest of the world, City Escape’s new EP Avalanches is the final piece of the puzzle. Comprised of everything from jazz noodling, samples, prog/psych riffs and textures, and even the odd breakdown, Avalanches is impressive, unbelievably tight and boasts some formidable production values. Take note world, Australia is coming to get you and City Escape are among the foot soldiers of the revolution.
Sounds Like: Fall Of Troy / Mars Volta / Thrice
****
CKY – Carver City
(Roadrunner / Warner)
Who Goes There?: Remember Bam Margera from Jackass? Well, his brother plays drums in this quartet of easily influenced musicians.
How Goes It?: There is something about CKY that doesn’t allow the listener to become completely immersed in the experience. Perhaps it’s the tempo, perhaps it’s the schizophrenic attitude to songwriting or perhaps it’s the vocals. Whatever it is, Carver City is almost impossible to classify, as the band jumps from bluesy rock to various genres of metal, to odd moments of gothic madness – and as a result is nearly impossible to listen to for an extended period of time. That said, there are elements of genius on this album, but as few and far between as they are, this is one that might best be left for the shuffle setting.
Sounds Like: HIM / Clutch / Black Sabbath
*½
Honorable Mentions
THE BLACKOUT – The Best In Town: One part Taking Back Sunday, one part Funeral For A Friend and an extra dose of cement hardens this release up to a fine standard.
IN DREAD RESPONSE – From The Oceanic Graves: Turns out that mixing the melodic and infectious leads of Dragonforce with the brutality of The Haunted works out great!
Dishonorable Mentions
THE CHELSEA SMILES – The Chelsea Smiles: Sure, one of them was in Danzig, but this is what happens when pub covers bands write their own music. Classically forgettable.
PATRICK PERRIER
|
| Comments are submitted for possible publication on the condition that they may be edited. Poster's IP addresses are logged. |
|
Be first to comment on this article
