I can't say I'm all that into this. It's "screamo" type stuff with a lot of layered shouts and screams, frantic drumming, chaotic arrangements and noisy guitar textures, etc. When they calm it down and let the rhythm section take it slower, or actually lock the instruments into a concrete rhythm, they're tolerable, but those moments are sort of rare, so despite some interesting melodic tangents and a few stable moments, this is generally pretty caustic and obnoxious. They throw in a few jangly clean breaks as well, but the compositions are just too disjointed and frenzied for their own good. "...The Stars in January" is probably the most listenable track overall, just because it flows a lot better and the clean guitars sound cool, but some of the shrieking vocal work in the middle of the song is so irritating that I can't take it - even if it does sound authentic. "The Temptation That is You", despite its excessive length, has some similarly well structured passages that I enjoy a hell of a lot... so there are signs that this band could be interesting, they're just not clicking with me yet. The recording's not that bad aside from being a little messy in the mix. The tones are all natural and such, but the sloppiness of the guitars carries over into the mix, so the drums stand out the most (which is fine, I like the drumming), followed closely by vocals and then bass, with guitars sort of scattered around them. But I don't think the recording is too problematic in all honesty, the songwriting is the problem, I can live with the sound. The layout's pretty cool. The inner pages of the booklet are all collaged together with photographs taped down to worn, crumpled paper and envelopes with typewriter text. It's been done before but it definitely has a different look compared to most CD's. Lyrically everything is pretty much the standard relationship stuff, nothing out of the ordinary at all. "Our lives are spread on adjacent pages my heart is facing yours smiles on forgotten souls I want to share this life with you and share these dreams that I thought were ours and smiles on forgotten souls I want to share this life with you..." With a more structured writing style I think I could get into this band, but this is way too over the top as far as its grating direction for me to enjoy. Maybe next time.
[Coptercrash]
Running time - 26:41, Tracks: 7
[Notable tracks: The Temptation That is You]
Coptercrash - http://www.coptercrash.com
