Not familiar with the band name? Neither am I, not one bit, but I love the album title. It's really difficult to find familiar names with releases the first week of the year though, so we'll take what we can get. This one literally got released today!
They do have a MySpace (which has changed as a site dramatically since the last time I was on), which has no background or info on them. There's a Facebook page for a rapper by the same name that I'm pretty sure has nothing to do with them. And, surprise here, their website is under maintenance. For a band I've never heard of, they are not helping in the learning process. They're kind of brand new though apparently?
Fun times. I'm finding a bunch of Star Wars stuff instead. Welp, here we go folks.
"Action-Reaction" starts things and... hm. I don't hate it! There's a rock feel for sure, but it's not so dark I need to crawl into a corner to properly experience it. There's actually also this weird electronic guitar sound in there in some parts too, which is throwing me off a little, but, oh well. It's the kind of music I think any rocker would be into to an extent, but have a feeling of some discomfort.
Second, we get the track "All Systems Go." I think I know what's bothering about this music: the actual mix. The lyrics are as crisp as I wish, and everything sounds completely leveled out with each other instead of offering difference to appeal to the ears. And there's that electronic sound that's being mixed in as just one track to the entire recording - it's weird and feels really out of place.
"Send/Receive" was the track used as a preview by the label, and it's actually getting a little better. Instruments and sounds feel more balances, and I can hear the lyrics just a little better. There seems to be more emotion behind this that I think has been lacking in the voice as we progress here. The guitar is where all of the tension and passion arise from for these guys.
Next is "Magnified," and unfortunately, now we're back to improper mixing. The whole track just feel more monotone than anything in this genre ever should. I have to listen far too closely to the lyrics to appreciate them at all. Something should grab you somehow.
"Abort.Retry.Fail" is refreshing though. And, we finally have something to watch:
Unfortunately, we're back to the old in "The Departure," but at least the beat has picked up enough to keep a person interested. Melodies are being attempted in good faith, and maybe this means something for him. It gets a little dull, but we're making strides here people - little by little.
"Disconnect" is certainly taking us to a different place. I feel like this album started off heavy with rock sounds, and is transitioning into the electronic feel that was so hidden... ah, shit, nevermind. They went back a step. But hey, there are harmonies! We're getting somewhere. We're creating a sound that's no longer boring, but not quite interesting. It's there though. If only the muffled curtain around it could drop.
"Constellations" has a little hopeful sound, as I think it should with such a title. It's interesting how the main voice has been taken up in pitch as the album as moved on. Again, it's not mixed in a pleasing way, which I'm starting to think has something to do with the vocal reverb effects.
Almost through this whole thing, next up we've got "Runtime Error." It begins in a lighter place musically, but I can barely hear what he's saying, and I'm not buying that that was the intention. Bah, I really want to like this, just for the pretty piano overlay in a coupe of spots, but I also really just want to slink my head to the side and fall asleep. It's too easily done here. Not that I'm looking for excitement in every track, but just emotion of some kind would make all the difference.
Finally, there's "End Transmission" which seems to embrace the energy we've been craving all along - musically. It's like they've finally given it all that they've got. Except vocally. But now, I don't think it's their fault. Next time, guys, just turn the mic tracks up a little more!
It's not an awful sound for a band, but it's horribly mixed. Everything's muffled and the rock sound I think they're trying to get it lost by it. This could be better, and I bet they're much better live. Overall, I think it'll be interesting to see where they band goes with their future and what kind of base their able to develop. I'll keep an ear out. :)