(we're almost caught up...)
Okay, so today we're getting into the new release of a hardcorde band from England, a new outfit from the group Hybrid. This is their third studio release. Ambush Reality is their own created label, which they allowed to be bought by Interscope Records in order to get more coverage in America.
Three singles have already come from this album prior to the technical release date, "Sssnakepit," "Ghandi Mate, Ghandi," and "Arguing with Thermometers," which was released with the album. So far, it's already reported to have placed up to #69 on the Irish Albums Chart.
"System..." starts things off with this slow and slight build up, and I think we're already award that this may not be your typical hardcore band. There are electronic elements right off the bat, and actual singing as opposed to just screaming. It's kind of this statement on the world, and clearly he's getting more and more worked up...
Then we get in to "...Meltdown," which I suppose would have been flowed into really nicely if Spotify hadn't placed a commercial for me between the two. And yup, we're definitely dealing with an electronic arrangement here. There's a lot more to this than meets the eye, and a definite and welcome surprise for me personally.
Here's, for starters, the video for "Sssnakepit."
"Search Party" is a really great song in a lot of ways. There's that party element still, with relatable rock-out lyrics. Something that caught me is how incredibly obvious the British accents are in the music. Typically, you can't tell nationality by singing voice. I mean, look at the Beatles - I would have thought they were American had not been taught better.
"Arguing With Thermometers" comes with a video!
I spent the first minute or so of "Stalemate" braced, waiting for the song to break and go crazy. The verses have some really poignant opinions in them, but then the chorus has this odd freeing motion to it. There's one little bit of scratching in the bridge and later in the song that's irritating enough to not love the song, but it's otherwise a really fantastic arrangement.
"Ghandi Mate, Ghandi" was the second single released from the album, put out before the actual album release. I'm starting to wonder how much this album was meant to be a message. But hey, that's the beauty of music, right? You can say what you want? Even if you want to scream it with a background that sounds like Daft Punk laid down some tracks for you. It's all good. "Stop. Think. Begin to revive."
Kind of love the next title: "Warm Smiles Do Not Make You Welcome Here." Oh how dark. I actually adore the music for this. I think I would love, even more, the same track with no lyrics, but still, it works as is. Even the weird robotic bridge is acceptable for what it adds to the track. Between the electronic sounds and the guitar that takes over toward the end, I really love this a lot.
"Pack of Thieves" would be an awesome song if the bridges weren't hitting us with so damn much. I mean, it doesn't do that the whole time, but the different parts all at once don't work well and just feel like a lot of people arguing. Then it takes a very abrupt turn from rock to faux-electronic-rock. It's just all too much.
We walk into a haunting scene with "Hello Tyrannosaurus, Meet Tyrannicide," which I highly doubt has anything to do with dinosaurs. It's a track on how empires always fall. No matter how great and big you are. And I think there's some lesson in there about knowing the details of the past, not just regurgitating the info you're told. It's actually a really great conceptual song.
"Constellations" ends things in a much more solemn way. His speeches/raps take me a little out of the moment, but the music there is absolutely gorgeous. It's a great ending piece for all of the anger and aggravation we've been hearing the entire rest of the time. Definitely something to drift off to as we finish up, yet has powerful punch at the very end - don't forget what we're here to say.
Stuff I Wouldn't Mind Hearing Again:
- "System..." - Spotify, YouTube
- "Search Party" - Spotify, YouTube
- "Warm Smiles Do Not Make You Welcome Here" - Spotify, YouTube
- "Constellations" - Spotify, YouTube
And if you're interested in the whole thing: Full Album Spotify Link