On their MySpace site they describe their music as "Post/Math Rock with a
splash of melodic honesty
with maybe a hint of pretense add to taste".Their influences are DON
CABALLERO,THE MARS
VOLTA,RADIOHEAD,EXPLOSIONS IN THE SKY,MOGWAI,TOOL and many others, but i
was pleased to
see them list RUSH,PINK FLOYD and KING CRIMSON as well.The music is
often
intense,intricate,explosive,melodic and emotional.I like it!
"Ten Car Pileup" opens with the heaviest section on the album and then
it settles with vocals a minute
in.This contrast continue.Love the intricate guitar on the mellower
passages.The vocalist reminds me a
little of the singer for SAGA.Great way to start the record. "Abu
Ehraib(Hotel America)" opens with a
sample of someone speaking before a killer soundscape comes ripping
in.It settles quickly as vocals
come follow.Check out the drumming before 2 minutes.Intense! Contrasts
continue. "Tsunami" is even
better than the first two songs! "Wave going out wave coming in and i am
breathing out if only i could
breath in" is the opening line that is repeated.Great lyrics in this
one.Post rock styled guitar comes and
goes.Nice bass 2 minutes in as the song builds in intensity.The vocals
become more passionte as
well.Several f-bombs are dropped but it fits with the absolute emotion
that is being delivered.It then
calms down as waves can be heard rolling in to end it.Nice.
"Phantoms..." opens with drums and
intricate guitar as the bass throbs.Vocals before 1 1/2 minutes.Love the
guitar as it becomes Fripp-
like.The tempo picks up before 3 minutes.It settles back 4 minutes
in.The guitar and drums sound
incredible.Vocals are back and it's heavier after 5 minutes. "...Fill
the Skies" features more intricate
guitar melodies and vocals.It turns heavy as contrasts continue.
"Rebirth" has this relaxed intro as
vocals join in.The chorus comes in after a minute.The most commercial
song on here. "Galapagos" is a
straight forward tune and probably my least favourite. "Libertine" has
some complex guitar and drum
work especially before 2 minutes. "Tethers" is a return to form and one
of my favs.A mid-paced tune
that just seems to hit the spot if you know what i mean.Love the chorus
too.Violin in this one as
well. "In The Crash, We Die" opens with some cool percussion until the
vocals take over.The tempo
slows down in an interesting section.We get some intensity that comes
and goes. "Eyes On Wings" is
another fav of mine.Post rock guitar before 2 minutes and the vocals get
more passionate 3 minutes
in. "Sleep,In Red" is the longest track at 9 minutes.Some atmosphere and
darkness to start.Percussion
followed by outbreaks of sound before it settles with vocals.Nice
drumming 3 minutes in.A calm before
6 minutes but then it starts to build until it gets really intense as
vocals return to end it.
For me this is worth 4 stars but i know these guys can do even better.A
lot of potential and talent here.
../album.asp?id=20037 -
Heavy
Prog
Review by
../Collaborators.asp?id=7397 - Rivertree
Special Collaborator Psych/Space
Team & Band Submissions
'Phantoms fill the skies' contains a fine collection of modern art rock
songs - improved compared to
the 2005 forerunner album. Some sources are evaluating their music as
post/math rock. Bordering -
okay - but it doesn't really hit the nail right on the head. At least
for this album. Attention - you shouldn't be distracted by the cover art
showing a woman more dead than alive with deformed legs and arms.
Unfortunately this is no benefit as for my taste even if the album is
pointed out for manifesting a dark
depressive mood in the whole.
Anyhow - concentrating on the musical
content - in opposite to the visual aspect the band is rocking with joy
of playing as a precondition I'm quite sure - dynamics and crescendos,
good vocals and twin guitar work which is crashing here and psychedelic
there. And that's why EVERY OTHER FATE's music is absolutely unique (and
I like it).
Meant as building up an epic perhaps the album name
is split in two song titles. Nice idea whereas I
don't know if this is really something new. The tracks are indicating
some slight Tool leanings and
are also provided with spacey guitars - always alternating between very
dynamic and more unexcited
slow parts. Abu Ghraib (Hotel America) belongs to my
favourites initiated by a sample and also
attacking in waves - the trademark of the songs. An example for pulling
of a feat to combine a
complex song structure with a catchy memorable melody.
The same
with the long track Sleep, in red which is consisting
of all the potency the band
has to offer. First of all the varied guitar work is really striking -
fantastic! I love songs which
have a spacey touch in parts or even contain some psych moments. And
that's it here - a psychedelic
middle part, raising in waves until the band is back on the top with
full dynamics carried by the
good working rhythm fraction. Rebirth should be
mentioned if someone is missing a ballad up
to now whereas In the Crash, We Die is made for
headbanging and the refrain for singing along.
(Nearly) everything
matches - eminent teamwork - entertaining songs, skillfully played with
much
enthusiasm. The songs can be downloaded via several distributors and
even PayPlay.FM provides a
printable cover. A great find for those who are searching for new
inspiring music hailing from the
heavy art and post rock area.