Kill 2 This "Mass.[Down.]-Sin.(Drone.)" CD
[Abstract]
Having read a good deal about this UK act over the years, this is my first time actually hearing them. I didn't know what to expect, but I didn't think I was going to be that into it. However, I actually think this is quite good, and I could see this band doing great things down the road based on the strengths of this disc. It's basically modern metal with a backbone somewhat similar to the first two Machine Head records (musically and vocally) with a more adventurous foray into a clinical sort of industrial vibe, due in large part to the crisp rigidity of the drums and the extensive layering of vocals/instruments with some subtle electronic textures. Sure, there are very slight, slight hints at nu-metal, but there's a lot more going on here. I really like the way they keep things constantly melodic without shedding either heaviness or a bleak atmosphere, and the vocals are really well handled, from forceful singing to distorted screams, etc. I believe this is the band's first record with this vocalist, so I'm not sure how he compares to their former frontman, but I'd wager he's an improvement. Most of the compositions have catchy choruses, but there are some all around winners like "Frame by Frame", and the excellently bleak "Circles" - with its swirling layers of intricately interwoven clean guitars and synths along with a soaring vocal performance. Portions of the caustic rhythms in "Suburbanality (How to Hang Yourself From an Urban Structure)" even sound strikingly similar to Bloodlet!? The production's good, but it could be better. My biggest gripe, as always, is that the drums are obscenely digital sounding, very closely resembling a drum machine. The bass also falls to the distance amidst the numerous layers of guitars, but that's not a major problem. The guitars can get slightly muddy on occasion, but the clean parts sound exceptional, and for the most part the details shine through as needed, and I think the vocals sound excellent. The layout's so-so. I've certainly seen worse, and I do like what they've done as far as arranging the text, but the imagery isn't all that interesting, and I don't see too much of a connection between the visuals and the lyrics. Plus the band photos are of a course a bit... well, "trendy", perhaps? They basically give off more of a nu-metal feel, which the music hints at but certainly overcomes. Most of the lyrics deal in some form or another with a bleak picture of mankind, "Suburbanality, This is what you stand for, A culture built on lies, In which I won't get swept along, Is this all there is?" The main "problem" with this record is that it's too damn long. For instance, there's no reason whatsoever that "Winter Green" needs to run 10 minutes, and despite the fact that there are no songs that I actively dislike, there are a few that are less than mandatory. I find it very hard to get through the entire record in one sitting as a result, and 50 minutes really comes off as feeling more like an hour or more... I can certainly live with that issue, but I think that as a whole this would be a much more immediate and memorable record were it 10 minutes or so shorter. Not bad, though. A few of these songs are just awesome, and I'll look forward to their future efforts. (7/10)
Running time - 50:00 (approximately), Tracks: 11
[Notable tracks: The Truth... and Other Lies, Frame by Frame, Circles, Suburbanality (How to Hang Yourself From an Urban Structure)]
Abstract - http://www.candlelightrecords.co.uk

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