THE TREES ARE DEAD & DRIED OUT WAIT FOR SOMETHING WILD

Sikth has created quite a unique sound on their debut, The Trees Are Dead & Dried Out, Wait for Something Wild, characterized by technical metal riffing, slap bass, melodic breaks, and bizarre screamed/spoken vocals. The best I can do to describe it is the halfway point between Unexpect and System of a Down with a heavy emphasis on technical riffs and structures. As interesting and fresh as this is, it's hard to tell how much of this music the band takes seriously, really. Likewise, it's hard to tell how much of this we're supposed to take seriously. While they're busting out some admirable riffs and beats, the vocals almost sound like a parody of Limp Bizkit at their most nutty. The clean vocals are more legitimate, but they do resemble the clean vocalist of some nu-metal band (the names escape me). Now, we could frown on this apparent influence of nu-metal and constant use of silly vocals, or we can give them a high five for showing us how it's done and how to have fun while doing so. I want to high five them, but I think at this point they haven't quite earned it. There are so many delicious moments on the disc, like the closing minutes of Skies of the Millenium Night, but the screamed vocals, while they can certainly be fun and even be used tastefully for effect, are used way too much on some songs. Shortly after you were enticed by the frantic but opener, Scent of the Obscene, you'll start getting annoyed and tired of the music. They need to find a way to properly channel their humor, like System of a Down does. Also, some of the more experimental tracks, like the back-to- back Tupelo and Can't We All Dream don't quite work out. They are rather dull, though it's clear that the intentions were in the right area and ideas were close. Much like those are the piano interludes that make up the two parts of Emerson. Good ideas, much needed breaks, but hardly interesting. The album closes with a strictly vocal narration with some color commentary. Again, it hardly holds interest, but man, this stuff can really be something!

These guys have so much potential. They amalgamate so many sounds and styles, there's no telling what heights they can reach! With just a little more focus on the big picture, these guys can create a wild, theatrical, enthralling and wholly entertaining & memorable album that can take the craziness of avant-garde metal bands like Unexpect and present it in a more appealing package to those who haven't quite been able to get into such music, or haven't heard any of it. They could have done so much, it's a shame that they played it safe, far too safe, on their follow up, which, even more of a shame, was their last record.

The Trees Are Dead & Dried Out, Wait for Something Wild is a mixed bag in more than one sense. Fans of creative music that aren't put off by humor or nutty, screamy vocals should check this out. There is enough goodness throughout to make it worth your while, but be aware that the novelty may wear off quickly.