"Beacons" is the debut full-length from Canada's Cold Craving (released by Eschaton Industries), and I have to say that its breadth of influences is pretty damn impressive. Never in a million years would I have expected to encounter a band that occasionally throws total black metal riffs into a combination of different little elements from emo/"screamo", angular indie rock, and droning "post-rock", but... Cold Craving does it. And effectively, too!? The vocals range from super polished singing to harsh screaming and a few approaches that fall somewhere between the two. The singing is so strong that it really suggests the type of band that would be all about huge choruses and catchy songwriting and stuff, but that's not really what this band is about at all, which creates an interesting contrast. Most of the songs top five or six minutes here, and the more memorable moments tend to result from combinations of the vocals with some of the more frantic riffing—which generally comes in well-focused, energetic bursts throughout the album. There's almost always some melody tucked away in there, though—be it through that ringing sense of post-hardcore dissonance that a lot of the chord phrasings and layers create, or more obvious treatments. But you'll also encounter pulsing throbs of distorted bass, quick fits of chunky rhythms/picking patterns, sparse electronic textures, acerbic guitar work with blasting percussion, and numerous other bits and pieces. As usual I'm starting to feel like there's no sense in trying to properly describe what's going on here, so check out the track below and judge for yourself...
This one's limited to a mere 250 copies (100 on green/white swirl, 150 on beige with gold haze), so vinyl fans should act fast, as I'd be shocked if this didn't sell out. For everyone else, it's also available on iTunes, so... you know what to do!
Get It
Eschaton Industries (LP)
iTunes (mp3)
Comments
The Between the Buried and Me and Glass Casket (and many others) are known by their blending of various styles of music, but mostly mixing harder parts with “moments that tend to calm you but you know that in the next move you will be thrown to wall by mighty breakdown / kamikaze style grindcore burst (ultra speed) or simply by ending the track in some calmer manner”.
This band do “the mix” a little differently - songs are a little shorter and more energetic, from almost popish/positive singing in a manner of indie band to some badass moment, but always possessing some energy.
Bands which try to mix different style can make music which starts repeating itself (strangely for variety of styles) or too “dense”, just too much of everything and nothing to put them “story” together. Sure a lot of bands are mixing different styles of music as people mix different styles of cooking but you must take care that you don’t kill the album by it.
Well I didn’t smoke/drink anything despite the first few statements of comment but I think I will buy the LP. Since it came in 2 different colors it will be hard to pick which one to buy :)
4.12.2010 | By Carlos
and I misses the limited copy of CD-R box set. Damn!!!
The eyes will be looking to eBay for the next 5 years to see the auction… Ahhhh well…
4.12.2010 | By Carlos
Hmmm….those are some interesting thoughts, Carlos. I, being a fan of BTBAM, have to agree with this statement, “Bands which try to mix different style can make music which starts repeating itself (strangely for variety of styles) or too “dense”, just too much of everything and nothing to put them “story” together.” Their latest album(The Great Misdirect), while enjoyable, felt a bit repetitive especially after coming out so soon after Colors. I felt like I had little time to fully enjoy Colors but that has to do with the band than the music. I did notice, though, in The Great Misdirect how they,
“mixed harder parts with “moments that tend to calm you but you know that in the next move you will be thrown to wall by mighty breakdown / kamikaze style grindcore burst (ultra speed) or simply by ending the track in some calmer manner”.” Carlos, are you a fan of BTBAM? Or simply using them as an example?
4.12.2010 | By Adrianoso
Actually that second quote probably relates more to Colors than to The Great Misdirect, heh.
4.12.2010 | By Adrianoso
:) I’m not a fan of BTBAM although I have S/T and Silent Circus at home and sold Alaska. Then then were out of my radar I guess. I’ve listened Colors few times and wanted to listen the The Great Misdirect once but then I forgot about it. I just think that from first album they start repeating their formula of: clean part, breakdown, clean parts, etc. Sure if you will “analyze” most of the “heavy” bands you will find some copy/paste formula.
Maybe it’s more clear with Glass Casket (first album, We are Gathered Here Today;they share some members with BTBAM). Sure they are great instrumentally-wise:songs are complex, chaotic, heavy. But the formula it quite obvious and then kill the enjoyment to me soon: clean passage with clean vocals, like the calm ocean or something and then when you are somewhere between the clouds you are crushed down with some breakdown/grindcore explosion. I remember that there was one video on the CD which has killer melody but those breakdowns just soon “pull” the CD from my memory.
Then you have Beecher (I think the title was His Elegy, His Autopsy;but I’m not sure). Almost every song is made differently. The album is good but someone can find this “principle” boring - band makes album which is the sum of it’s favorite bands/influence. Like:1. song will be in Coalesce style 2. in Napalm Death 3. in Converge., etc,
I think that Beecher was one of the better UK bands it that time and I played this album quite a lot, but as I said this one song - different style can be both good and both bad. Diversity is never bad but it can lead to lost of coherence. As you will create web page and every section will be put a little differently.
Burst is mixing a lot of styles on their latest Lazarus Birds. But album has some coherency for me through it. It sounds always “heavy” and for example song Cripple God is good with that singing.
Well I better go sleeping soon. I’ve listened songs on MS from Cold Craving few times and I think that I this album can grow on me a lot. There are a lot of different styles mixed in it but songs are energetic and aren’t too long so the ideas don’t repeat too much times and you can keep your attention to each track. The cover looks intriguing as well.
4.12.2010 | By Carlos
This is intriguing.
4.19.2010 | By Birkir