GRAYCEON

To be honest, I this album was bordering two stars for me, though great musicianship, and some spectacular moments, you only keep interest in a ten minute guitar, cello, drum jam session for so long. This young band has seen its share of post metal glory, especially the cellist/vocalist Jackie Perez, who has played in multiple post metal bands, such as Giant squid, and neurosis (to name a few). So when I was told she was playing full time on this one, I was very eager to scope the album out, and I must say I have mixed feelings.

The album definitely starts on a positive note, with a memorable cello riff, with the overwhelming drums pummeling afterwards, but I must say, the most impressive aspect of the music is the contrast of he vocals. Jackie has an archetypal choir like vocal style, while Doyle has a very sharp, and otherwise boring voice. Neither of their voices are fit for a lead part, so whenever the vocals come up, they both harmonize pretty much every time, creating this awesome contrast, completely unique to this band, upping the energy, and interest. Like I said, everyone in this group is talented, The drummer is absolutely furious, and he reminds me of Mike Giles on ItCotCK, the guitar, and the cello, and guitar cooperate great together, but either way you slice it up, it's a forty five minute long album with only four songs. All the songs follow the same trend, singing than an excessively long jam session, and you just simply cant do that in a twenty minute epic, there's no way I could keep focus through the song Ride.

I admire that the band is trying to start off their career with a very experimental, and different album, but you have to know your limits. Sure if they added more dynamics to the music, like a string section, or keyboards, or hell, even an electric bass, maybe the jam sessions wouldn't get so stale, sadly, not the case. Also I cant see this band move on to different types of music, I can see the rest of their albums being the same thing, following the same formula, but what choice do they have with only three instruments and vocals?

2.7 stars