A MURDER OF CROWS

This one is more aggressive than their debut, with more guitars and less keyboards, but thankfully there are more flute passages.This really is the whole package, thoughtful and meaningful lyrics , a four pronged guitar attack , a drummer who is amazing, a singer who can bring all kinds of emotions with his vocals, and lastly the flute brings another dimension to the soundscape.

Things get started with "Feed Part I: Stone By Stone" with a fantastic riff, and a guitar melody over top of it, this goes from intense to placid throughout. "Feed Part II : The Awakening" opens with flute and acoustic guitar that turns heavy with some great guitar solos. "The Messenger" is another great song with the drums and riffs standing out. "In A Garden Made Of Stones" is the heaviest so far, although this one too contrasts the pastoral and loud passages. Love the scorching guitar solo. "Some Things You Can't Return" opens with an ominous bass line and fragile vocals, creating a dark, atmospheric mood and it just gets more intense from there. Again back and forth. "Angels In Vertico" features heavy, catchy riffs and reserved vocals that get aggressive at times. "Regret" is a lighter sounding song that is wondrous, with piano leading the way.

"Crows On The Wire" opens with bass and drums and a sinister guitar sound, creating a dark mood, then we have a sampling of a religious man ranting, followed by a hypnotic guitar melody. "I'm Not Waving" opens with a FOO FIGHTERS sounding melody (the tone of the guitar riff). And check out the lyric "I'm not waving to you, i'm drowning".The lyrics are about a person who is at the end of his rope and know one sees it. Sad. Great drumming in this one. "Flies" has a real full sound with the pounding drums leading the way. "Black Smoke And Mirrors" has an amazing flute melody throughout, and is an acoustic based tune that is quite powerful. The last track "Time" is simply stunning. A lighter song with strummed guitar and piano.

When I review a record, I take notes and always check off the songs I really like...well they all got checked on this one.There is something special about Devin Graves' music, wheather it's DEADSOUL TRIBE or PSYCHOTIC WALTZ and as I felt "Mosquito" was a masterpiece, I also feel that "A Murder Of Crows" is also a masterpiece.