Grails - Deep Politics

Portland, Oregon's Grails are not your ordinary American instrumental band. While most instrumental acts develop a single idea and build on it until climax, Grails create a tapestry of ideas and themes that vary from track to track. On their newest offering Deep Politics, Grails grace us with some of the most intricate ideas and melodies out of their entire catalog. Deep Politics is the band's seventh studio album and contains eight tracks of layering and complexity. As a whole, it sounds more like a cinematic film score than a standard post-rock album.

Deep Politics begins with the track 'Future Primitive', which is a dark opener that contains low-tuned guitars and layers of composed strings (arranged by composer Tim Harris). This track also contains very droned out backing vocals that help to set the dark mood. 'All The Colors Of The Dark' is a piano-laden track, filled with echoing guitar and a choir section that adds to the overall cinematic feel. Sitar and reverb end the track, giving it an almost middle-Eastern type vibe. 'Corridors Of Power' is a beat-laden track that is easily the standout. While the majority of Deep Politics is a completely new sound for Grails, the track 'I Led Three Lives' is the closest thing to the Black Tar Prophecies EPs. This track relies heavily on psychedelic guitars and mellotrons. 'Deep Snow' closes the album with a bang. Acoustic and electric slide guitars help to build up the track before the full band comes in to create a dense wall of sound composed of strings, rich bass lines, and enormous feedback.

Deep Politics is Grails at their finest. The Portland four-piece has taken their music to an entirely different level and has succeeded in doing so. Grails has continued to evolve their sound and this is most recognized on Deep Politics. If you want to hear something different than your ordinary post-rock, I highly recommend Deep Politics by Grails.

Check out the track 'Corridors Of Power' off of Grails - Deep Politics:

Between The Buried And Me - The Parallax: Hypersleep Dialogues

Hailing from Raleigh, North Carolina, Between The Buried And Me have been pleasing ears since their formation in 2000. Between The Buried And Me have always taken the free-form approach and for many bands in the progressive genres, this approach can go terribly wrong. Luckily, Between The Buried And Me make this method work, using the skills that they have been graced with. On April 12, 2011, the band released their seventh studio project, an EP entitled The Parallax: Hypersleep Dialogues. On this release, the band blends many genres and the music has a very similar feel to their last two releases, The Great Misdirect and Colors. This EP is much more accessible than the last two releases however, and the band manages to sound much more progressive and clearer than ever before.

The Parallax: Hypersleep Dialogues contains three tracks of epic proportions but to me, this does not seem like a three track EP. The songs are long enough in length and many boundaries are covered that this release could easily be split up into eight or nine tracks. The concept of this EP introduces two characters who live in different planes of existence and are faced with similar personal issues that they will have to make decisions about. These decisions will ultimately change their lives and possibly the course of the universe.

The EP begins with 'Specular Reflection', a track that starts out with a guitar passage very similar to Alaska-era Between The Buried And Me. The track develops into a beautiful and intense masterpiece, and the intensity continues for the first five minutes of the track, eventually breaking down into a soft interlude that almost sounds like twangy Americana at times. This track transitions very smoothly into the second track entitled 'Augment of Rebirth'. Lead guitars and jazz bass make up the beginning of the track, followed by a bizarre acoustic middle section that has the bar band feel of Tom Waits. The last track, 'Lunar Wilderness', covers everything from grindcore to blues and ends this EP with a bang.

Between The Buried And Me have proven themselves once again with The Parallax: Hypersleep Dialogues. This EP will keep the listener focused and drawn into the music. Between The Buried And Me progress with every release and cover so many boundaries that they might as well be named the Pink Floyd of modern metal. The Parallax: Hypersleep Dialogues is a masterpiece and a success, but the overall success of the two-part series will be determined by the upcoming LP. Do yourself a favor and go pick up The Parallax: Hypersleep Dialogues by Between The Buried And Me.

Check out the track 'Augment of Rebirth' off of Between The Buried And Me's The Parallax: Hypersleep Dialogues:

O. Children - O. Children

When someone hears the term goth, they most likely think of pitch black clothing, slicked back hair, and depressing music. This however, is a very narrow minded way of looking at it. Some of the best bands in history have experimented with the goth approach, including Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds, Joy Division, The Cure, and Depeche Mode, to name a few. Then there is the London-based band O. Children. These four men create a modern take on this style and are, in fact, named after a Nick Cave track. Now you can see how the dots are connecting. O. Children's music is dark music at its finest. I could even go as far as saying that they resemble Bauhaus or Joy Division. A band however, can only take so many comparisons before being another copycat, and this is something O. Children don't want to be known as. Their music draws comparisons but it also has a unique and innovative approach to this type of genre, and it is an approach that is very pleasing to my ears.

O. Children take themselves seriously and want to be taken seriously. They do not want to be known as a band following in the footsteps of acts such as Bauhaus, Joy Division, or even The Horrors. There is a bass-heavy pulse in the music, as well as singer Tobi O'Kandi's baritone vocals, that helps to keep the band in a league of their own. They have been called the first essential band of the decade and after listening, I know that truer words have never been spoken. I do not listen to unique music to be different or trendy, but I listen to it because I know that bands such as O. Children can easily make a name for themselves with the right amount of exposure. The radio needs new essential artists and O. Children fit right into that category. They create amazing dark pop music that needs to be heard and who cares if they make it big. We don't need anymore indie/art-rock kids saying that once music is big and popular it is no longer good. If a person likes a band and then dislikes them for gaining wide exposure, this person is not really a true fan and is a disgrace to the music industry as a whole.

O. Children have successfully made a name for themselves with the release of their self-titled album. The four members are masters at their craft and have brought back the goth rock sensibility of the 80's with a new twist. From start to finish, O. Children's self-titled album touches on dark pop and goth rock with a little shoegaze and ambient mixed in. Everyone should keep a close watch on O. Children for the mere fact that they are modern legends. There have been many bands over the years that have tried to re-create 80's sounding pop similar to Joy Division and Bauhaus, and O. Children are the first ones to succeed.

Check out the tracks 'Ruins' and 'Pray The Soul Away' off of O' Children's self-titled album:

Arctique Circles - Golden Gloom

Miami, Florida natives Arctique Circles are a musical duo consisting of Juno and Alexander. Their music varies between ambient, post-metal, pop, and shoegaze. Justin K. Broadrick and Jesu are names that come to mind upon first listen. The duo has remained under the radar since their inception and not much can be found online that describes them.

Their newest offering Golden Gloom consists of four tracks, one of these tracks being a demo of another. Opener 'When You Sleep' is a My Bloody Valentine cover and to be honest, it sounds much better (heavier, sludgier, crisper, more ambient) the original version from Loveless. 'The Wolves Gather' is an eleven minute drone/minimalist epic that doesn't vary much, but manages to hold a consistent ambiance throughout. 'Thrilled to be Here' is a Plumtree cover, and here Arctique Circles continue their evolutionary process by making the track sound heavier and more distorted. The EP closes with an original demo of 'The Wolves Gather' which is only half of the length as the mastered version.

All in all, Arctique Circles need to be heard. This is transcending music. This is music that takes you on a journey into the unknown, where different sounds can be heard upon second listen. Do yourself a favor and please listen to Arctique Circles. You will not be disappointed.

Check out Arctique Circles cover My Bloody Valentine's 'When You Sleep' here:

Heirs - Fowl (2010)

In 2009, Australian post-metalers Heirs released their debut LP entitled Alchera, which received much praise from many Australian communities due to its brooding, sonic intensity. The band was not praised much elsewhere, and were fairly unknown at the time. Just a year after Alchera was released, Heirs released Fowl, and it is a sonic masterpiece. This type of music could literally produce a trance in the listener, due to its pulsing repetition. While Alchera was more drone oriented, Fowl has given the band a spot in the heavy instrumental scene, along with veterans Isis, Pelican, and Neurosis.

Fowl is an intense, but beautiful album. Elements of post-rock and industrial rock, as well as dark electronics, give the album a wider variety in sound. Drummer Damian Coward and guitarist Brent Stegeman mesh very well together and create a brutal, yet melodic vibe. The track 'Dust' slowly builds up into a sonic explosion of sound, combined with monotonal drumming, which is heard in most industrial rock. 'Mother' brings to mind Isis' In The Absence Of Truth while 'Drain' sounds like a mix between Red Sparowes, Mogwai, and Nine Inch Nails.

Heirs are at the top of their game and Fowl proves this. Released by Denovali Records, Fowl is an ear-aching, sonic palette of noise, that takes the listener on a journey through heavy instrumental sounds. Although Heirs follow in the footsteps of post-metalers Isis and Pelican, they also create a sound that is uniquely their own. Making their way out of Australia and gracing the entire globe with their sounds, Heirs are making a name for themselves in the instrumental rock community. I am very pleased with what I hear on Fowl and I will definitely be keeping up-to-date on Heirs.

Check out the tracks 'Drain' and 'Fowl' off of Heirs Fowl:

Explosions in the Sky - Take Care, Take Care, Take Care (2011)

On April 26, 2011, West Texans Explosions in the Sky will release sixth studio full-length entitled Take Care, Take Care, Take Care. This will also mark the longest break the band has had (four years to be exact) since the release of All of a Sudden I Miss Everyone in 2007. According to the post-rockers official site, the music on Take Care, Take Care, Take Care "feels different than anything else we've done before and we're very excited for you to hear it". The music may be different but the band chose to work with John Congleton again, who co-produced All of a Sudden I Miss Everyone. I was able to get my hands on the album early and I wanted to share my thoughts and opinions with those that may be reading.

Opener 'Last Known Surroundings' starts off with an eerie sounding sample, followed by what has to be one of my favorite tracks by Explosions in the Sky. Distorted riffs overload the track, as well as folk sounding guitar resembling Fleet Foxes layered in between. The track builds up into an epic crescendo and the guitars are layered so well that they can almost be made out as horns. 'Human Qualities' also starts out with a glitch-like sample and this is something entirely new for the post-rock quartet. This track then takes the quiet to loud approach that the post-rock genre is famous for. 'Trembling Hands' is Explosions in the Sky's most different track-to-date and also the shortest, clocking in at 3 minutes and 31 seconds. This track starts off with chanting vocals and very fast musicianship that makes the listener feel as if he or she is on a mission to somewhere or something. 'Be Comfortable, Creature' begins with a melancholic, yet hopeful, guitar piece which leads into crushing bass and drums that help level the track out. 'Postcard from 1952' begins with a very subtle intro for about the first 3 minutes, which leads into a very melodic middle section, followed by epic distorted beauty at the 5 minute mark. Closer 'Let Me Back In' is the longest track on the album, clocking in at 10 minutes and 11 seconds. This track starts off with a very groove-oriented beat, recalling that of The Roots Of Orchis. Haunting guitar pieces underline the beat for the first 2 minutes, followed by intense, distorted riffs that continue until the 6 minute mark. The track leads out with the same hip-hop sounding beat and very smooth jazz guitar.

After hearing 2007's All of a Sudden I Miss Everyone, I was worried that Explosions in the Sky had gone stale. All of their music began to mesh and it was hard to find any new innovation in their pieces. Four years later, the band are back on top and are releasing something that is very different than their previous material. I am very pleased with what I hear on Take Care, Take Care, Take Care and I hope you will be pleased as well.

Check out the tracks 'Last Known Surroundings' and 'Human Qualities' off of Take Care, Take Care, Take Care:

Deftones - Diamond Eyes (2010)

 It has been five years since the release of Deftone's Saturday Night Wrist, and in 2010 they released their long awaited album Diamond Eyes. The Deftones went through a lot of emotional turmoil during that time when news came on bassist Chi Cheng's car accident, leaving him in a coma since 2008. During this time, the band was in the process of working on a new album entitled Eros, but when the tragic news came, the album was put on hold. Instead of continuing with Eros, the Deftones decided to start another album from scratch and brought aboard Sergio Vega (former Quicksand member), who filled Cheng's spot on bass. Despite what this band has been through, Diamond Eyes is by far their best album-to-date.

The Deftones have always been about musical dexterity, with each album sounding different than the others, while still keeping that metal undertone. On Diamond Eyes, the band combines atmospheric hard rock with intricate ballads. Songs such as 'Rocket Skates' and 'Royal' have crushing riffs and heavy tones, while 'Sextape' and '976-Evil' have more ballad sounding results. The track 'Sextape' has no sexual qualities whatsoever, and is really about spiritual isolation, whereas '976-Evil' is about singer Chino Moreno looking for someone he has lost (vague references to Cheng can be picked out in this track), and there is nothing evil about this song, in fact it is one of the more melodic ballads on the album. The Deftones have always been good with hidden meanings and Chino writes lyrics that are always open to interpretation. The song 'Prince' has a very similar feel to 'RX Queen' from their album White Pony. Diamond Eyes, as a whole, is not a tribute album to a fallen brother and friend (though many tracks could be interpreted to fit Cheng's current state), but rather an evolution for the band. Rather than going through with Eros and performing the songs live, which would put the band into a deeper depression, they decided to create a whole new album that they could perform live without the emotional distress.

All in all, Diamond Eyes, is quality musical material. The Deftones have never been about pinpointing themselves into a particular genre, but instead they incorporate elements from all spectrums into the mix. Sometimes when tragedy strikes, those going through the tragedy become stronger as people, and this is exactly what has happened with the Deftones. They look on the positive side of things with Cheng's condition, and continue to think that he will wake up at any minute. They wrote Diamond Eyes knowing that Cheng would come out of his coma-state, and thinking this way has allowed them to make one of their best albums to date. According to the band, Cheng's condition is getting better day-by-day and I, as well as many, hope that he wakes up soon enough.

Check out the track 'Royal' off of the album Diamond Eyes:

This Will Destroy You - Tunnel Blanket (2011)

In 2006, Texas post-rock quartet This Will Destroy You released their first EP entitled Young Mountain. After releasing their self-titled debut album in 2008, the band focused more on smaller releases for two tears, before beginning work on what would be their next full-length. In 2009, they released a split record with Lymbyc Systym and in 2010, they released an EP entitled Moving On The Edges Of Things. On May 10, 2011, the quartet will release their second official full-length entitled Tunnel Blanket. With Tunnel Blanket, This Will Destroy You are trying to do something different than the typical post-rock formula and are going the route of soundscapes and atmospheres. The album has few epic crescendos, little reverb, and is very different than anything released by the quartet. I was lucky enough to hear the album almost a month before its official release date, and I am thrilled with what I hear.

For one thing, Tunnel Blanket is not the type of album that needs individual song reviews, because each track is as good as the next. The only two tracks on the album that are fairly similar to the quartet's previous work are 'Communal Blood' and 'Black Dunes', but these tracks are still very different, and a whole lot darker. Tracks such as 'Glass Realms' and 'Hand Powdered' go the more ambient direction. Layers of droned out guitars grace the tracks, giving them a similar feel to film scores or drawn-out soundscapes.

Tunnel Blanket will definitely make the listener drift off due to repetition, but the album is phenomenally layered and the guitars produce some of the greatest drone sounds that I ever heard in this genre of music. With more than a month until its official release, Tunnel Blanket is capable of being one of This Will Destroy You's best releases. Although the feel is entirely different than previous releases, This Will Destroy You knew which route to go and succeeded. The post-rock genre is too bombarded with similar sounding artists and needs a solution to this problem, and I think Tunnel Blanket is it. On May, 10, 2011, you will get to experience it yourself but for now check out the track 'Black Dunes':