SLUMBER RECON

First impressions are lasting impressions. The first impression I get with this band is that they are fifteen years too late. Now that's not to say that the music is weak. The music is full of energy. The musicianship is solid and the vocals are great. They really get down. If this band came out in the 90's they would have no questionably lead modern rock and metal onto a different path. A better path. Unfortunately that isn't the case.

Falling Asleep in Real Time has some nice chords to it. Very nu-metalish approach but not unpleasant. The singing is great and the heavier parts make me bang my head. A nice little Pantera-ish/Mudvayne-ish breakdown around 2:27. Guitars go post-rock afterward and the girl singing sounds sexy. Goes back into some nu-metal.

Hummer Pierced Through The Central Square is heavy as iron. There is a sick solo towards the end. The guitars are screaming and the vocals are too.

Veneto Slumber Recon clocks in at 7:32 and doesn't bore me to tears. A good signal they are thinking foward. It starts with some acoustic guitars playing almost flamenco style. Then they kick it into high gear with some heavy distortion. This song is skrettle to the max. I'm starting to think they can get a crowd bursting into a spontaneous mosh pit. I can't understand what they are saying but I like their melodies. The breakdown starts post-rockish and then brings back the flamenco (Maybe Eastern European?) then goes into almost a Serbian Rock Anthem. Then into a Serbian serenade with some clean delayed guitar to finish it off.

Selena starts off clean with a nice beat. A guy is singing this time and it's in English then the chick comes in. Some nice interplay between the two of them. Distortion kicks in after a minute but they continue singing. Turns into something almost european jazz. Very beautiful guitar work. Turns screamo towards the end.

Shiseido is skrettle. Too bad ass to be screamo. Part metal. Part Hardcore. Part Awesome. Probably the best track on this album.

Par Ti, San Marco starts with some more beautiful acoustic guitar. Some good drum/bass work backs it up. I don't know what he's saying but I think he's sad. I like the chicks backing vocals although it's technically not a harmony because she's singing the same notes. Towards the end he sounds pissed. Full skrettle around the 2:00 mark. A little hardcore thrown in their too. I'm starting to like this band.

Nothing... (The March Of Death) is apparently a cover of Mourning Beloveth. I usually hate when an album has a cover. It's fine for a live album but not studio. Luckily I never heard of this band before so I'm not entirely disappointed about that. I am however disappointed that this song is the closer. It is so emo the first few minutes. If it weren't for the death growl and low tuned distorted guitar at around 2:30 I would say this song sucks. They should have ended the album with Par Ti, San Marco.

In the end I'm left with a feeling of youth. Mainly because I loved this sound in high school. When I was 14 I was playing this kind of music. (At least trying to do so.) However there is nothing innovative or progressive about it by todays standards. The musicianship is solid and the vocals are on point. I give it a three even though the last song almost ruined the album for me.