Sutek Conspiracy "s/t" CD
[Ed Walters]
This is a new release that was recorded three years ago, and I know nothing about this band, but here they offer six really short songs that blend lots of melody with frantic metal leanings sort of like screamo, but not that irritating. It is a little bit sloppy and raw for me to really appreciate, but the writing isn't that bad, and I love the vocals for this kind of stuff. It's generally just scathing female vocal screams, sometimes layering in extra screams or getting a little bit higher/lower in range. There's definitely a little bit of a melodic Swedish thing happening, even in the clean instrumental "Funeral for a Warrior Part I", but the way they handle it isn't that typical. Were the instruments smoother and performed more fluidly it would actually be fucking awesome. The opening riffs of "I Still Can't Stand Up Straight" are straight out of the classic Iron Maiden handbook as well, which took me by surprise. The recording is okay, but it sort of sounds like a decent demo to me in some ways. It's just got that dry rawness to it, and that sort of accents some of the faults in the playing. It's not a huge mess mind you, but it needs work. I like that the mix is clear and even, and the vocals are perfectly handled for this style, it just needs a bit more tightness to the playing and the overall sound. The layout looks very nice with bold artwork, an excellent color scheme, and a stripped down presentation with nothing but a tracklist, the lyrics (on the back of the onecard insert), and recording information. The lyrics are bitter but still very hopeful, personal explorations with hints at larger issues and a sincere intent: "Our mistakes are used against us. Fingers pointed. Judgments made. The only way to learn is through experience. So fucking up is the only way we learn. Why can't you accept this?" This is pretty good for what it is. Not totally my thing, and not something I'd listen to on a regular basis at all, but if they were tighter performers I could see them doing some real damage. (5/10)
Running time - 10:06, Tracks: 6
[Notable tracks: Funeral for a Warrior Part I, I Still Can't Stand Up Straight]
Ed Walters Records - http://www.edwaltersrecords.org

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