TACOMA NARROWS BRIDGE DISASTER

'The World Inside' is comprised of six songs. Now this is their fourth regular release in the meanwhile, where we have a six year gap to notice concerning their previous album. Well, the conceptual context, as in most cases, as nearly expected, they are dealing with something moral-philosophical, self- and society reflecting. It's hip somehow, though often enough only scratching the surface. Regularly I don't care much about that. However, musically this album is a new revelation for sure. On one side they are delivering a lovely atmospheric ambience, though alternatively also huge post rock guitar walls, quasi in the next moment. Machinations showcases a melancholic synthesizer drenched intro, and a swinging mood, but later they are going metal with crashing guitars. And yes, on the gorgeous Truth Escapes we will experience vocals (Drew Vernon), yeah! Still not a major purpose, moreover succeeded, it's more than at the experimental stage. The final Apocryphal offers some rage, but overall you will get a melodic and atmospheric issue. Accessible for the common listener, do not await death or avant metal here.

Vocals hardly ever take effect. Hence the dual guitar effort makes the particular outcome here more or less. Both instruments do not appear in a primitive way at all, not that wild and brachial as it is concerning some death metal stuff for example. No, other attributes like accentuated, sensitive, empathic are ruling. Hereby Drew Vernon and Adam Paul are consequently shuffling space rock and post metal impressions, with the focus on the latter quite naturally. The opener Oko or the title track are proving this at best.

On a side note, sometimes I'm even inclined to hear three or more guitars. That will guarantee a lush sound at least, based on nine songs provided with a rather hypnotic and gripping flow in general. For one or two this may come a bit single-tracked over the course of more than 60 minutes, for me definitely not! So 'Wires / Dream \ Wires' convinces in a similar way the ABSTRAKT debut 'Limbosis' has done. The TNBD quartet offer an entertaining cross genre production here, which deserves attention by all means.

They are hailing from London, named after a bridge collapse which took place in the USA. However, to start off with, this album comes far away from a disaster definitely. The band is offering eight highly interesting, mostly instrumental songs on 'Exegesis'. While mixing post rock, psychedelic and prog metal appeal in some way, the songs are alternating between forceful conditions and hypnotically relaxed moments. So this is given in the vein of Tool, Isis, Portal - but also provided with the sensitive compositional impact of the band Grails as for my impression. Prog fans who like those bands will find a new home here for sure.

It's really hard to underline a special track. The title song definitely belongs to the very dynamic expeditions featuring aggressive attempts, a tricky one where drummer Alex Rainbow and bassist Tom Granica come out of hiding especially. Valis is more of a stately flow, mysteriously repetitive, a captivating exemplar. When Dylan Foulcher's voice is brought into action it sometimes reminds me of Eddie Vedder or Michael Stipe, yeah really! Black Iron Prison constitutes the point of culmination if you ask me, it's the aggressive kick-off, the tremendous groove in between, as well as the spacey ambience towards the end alongside a catchy refrain.

'Exegesis' is the second TACOMA NARROWS BRIDGE DISASTER album - an exceptional one, a balancing act consisting of fervour and melancholy. Key element is the dual guitar appearance by Drew Vernon and Adam Paul, soaring, echoing, riffing, crashing - the more I listen the more I like this ... kinda fascinating, my most played album in recent times - a wonderful affair overall, congrats TNBD - 4.5 stars.