Ironically my first exposure to this band is their last EP, apparently containing both old and new tracks recently recorded as the band's final farewell. Their style is kind of a screamo thing with lots of layered screaming vocals and tactfully caustic guitar parts that are panned and work together by weaving independent riffs alongside one another, but it's still different from the norm, adding in some creative uses of melody and dark atmospheres for additional dynamics. For example, "6am Shadows" is a chilled out instrumental driven by the rhythm section over distant guitar drones and abstract textures that kind of has a weird progressive rock feel to it, gradually building up in intensity as the drums become faster and more frantic and the guitars noisier and more persistent; while "Abaddon" has similar but more structured passages within its ranks that provide a nice break from the acerbic guitar work (Even bringing in some organ at one point!?). "Flight Machine" layers clean and distorted guitars and brings in a few spoken passages, and this constant blend of dynamics is very powerful, hitting hard and standing out as the finest moment herein if you ask me. "Vanishing Hour" is the most straightforward of the songs in my opinion, but its riffs are still damn powerful, and it's my other favorite as a result. "Death From Above" closes and is a massive 24-minute noise track: Very raw, totally lo-fi, etc. Expect lots of piercing feedback, distant banging, randomly swirling midrange, and then some. Being blunt? It totally sucks and shouldn't even be included, but... it's the last track so... fuck it, just skip it. As far as the sound goes it's kind of rugged, but in a way that fits this style nicely. The mix is thicker than most and borders on being muddy, but you can make out all of the instrumentation fine and the tones are nice on an individual level. I love the percussion as it's all totally natural and packs a good punch (plus the drummer is fucking excellent - tight as shit and constantly cranking out wild fills), the bass plays a solid role laying the foundation just behind the guitars, the vocals don't overpower, etc. The layout's got lots of pink coloring with collaged art all over the place inside. Nothing's included other than thanks lists and credits and such, so it's a lot of imagery but no lyrics or what have you. I'd be really curious to see the lyrics, but what can you do? Fuck it, I can live without 'em. I tend to be very hard to please when it comes to this style, but these guys definitely seem to have had a grip on how to do it right, so... I'm pleased with this EP for sure. I'd be curious to go back and check out their other work now, because this is a mighty fine way for 'em go out.
[Waking]
Running time - 17:00 (approximately), Tracks: 4 (
[Notable tracks: Vanishing Hour, Flight Machine]
Waking Records - http://www.wakingrecords.com
