Opener ‘Set Guitars to Kill‘ immediately sets the album apart from previous EP’s: this is no longer a sombre affair, the band are here to raise hell, as well as destroy it. Powerful crashing drums couple with a wailing guitar siren to announce the band’s arrival as if the apocalypse is imminent. Then the rock kicks in, slaps you in the cranium and next thing you know, you find yourself dancing along, regardless of the restrictions of the world around you. The frantic pace continues with the second track ‘A Little Solidarity Goes a Long Way‘. Chaotic drumming, epic reverberating guitars, all centred around a seriously addictive riff, which soon breaks down into a melodic fluffy moment before ripping back in towards a mammoth climax.
Elsewhere on the album there’s no shortage of variety. ‘Start a Band‘ brings to mind the band’s punk roots, whilst ‘I Capture Castles‘ will please fans of early era Explosions in the Sky. ‘Clench Fists, Grit Teeth…GO!‘ sounds as evil, burly and aggressive as its title would suggest, and ‘If It Ain’t Broke, Break It‘ is a mash of frenzied rhythms and daunting riffs. The guys also show they certainly know how to throw a musical party, with the vocal chants and cowbell (!) on ‘Don’t Waste Time Doing Things You Hate‘ sounding like the apocalypse’s euphoric after-party, almost guaranteed to stimulate a huge cheesy grin on your mug.
Finally, the band sees the party off with two very different but equally brilliant moments. Classic fan favourite ‘The Voiceless‘ has never sounded as good as it does on this album. Beautiful guitar melodies, keyboard plonks and a blissful breakdown show that underneath the band’s aggression there is still a heart that has the ability to produce something wonderfully dreamy and moving. The album finishes with ‘Eat the City, Eat it Whole‘, an uplifting opus of movements comprising feelings of hope, panic, calm and finally balls out brutal destruction.
Its easy to picture a band such as this going places in the future, despite being a solely instrumental band, thanks to the drive and passion these guys show for not only playing music, but for being involved and helping others alongside them walk the walk. In a genre becoming increasingly stale, its great to see a band break down the boundaries and push forward with an album of such original sound and style. As the title of one track implies, “If It Ain’t Broke, Break It” – thankfully, they really have.
Artist: And So I Watch You From Afar
Title: And So I Watch You From Afar
Label: Smalltown America (UK) / Xtal (Japan)
Дата выпуска: 13/04/09
Format: CD/DD
Продолжительность: 60:00
Quality:VBR V0
Размер:177Mb
Url: myspace.com/andsoiwatchyoufromafar
Tracklist:
1. Set Guitars To Kill
2. A Little Bit Of Solidarity Goes A Long Way
3. Clench Fists, Grit Teeth…Go!
4. I Capture Castles
5. Start A Band
6. Tip Of The Hat, Punch In The Face
7. If It Ain’t Broke, Break It
8. TheseRIOTSareJUSTtheBEGINNING
9. Don’t Waste Time Doing Things You Hate
10. The Voiceless
11. Eat The City, Eat It Whole
Bonus Disc Tracklist:
1. Intro
2. Marching Over The Coals
3. Clench Fists, Grit Teeth… Go! (Live)
4. Holylands, 4AM (Live)
5. The Machine (Live)
6. thisRIOTSareJUSTtheBEGINNING
7. Mount Kailash
8. The Voiceless (Beat Down Motorcore Version)
