THE CAPTAIN'S DAUGHTER

I don't normally like to do this, but this album is simply a mess. Eight Bells is a band out of Oregon, USA that mixes post metal and prog rock, but I really am not sure how successfully they do this. In fact, they even have a touch of black metal, which I really don't like. But, I thought I'd give it a shot, as the artwork is beautiful.

Now, the first couple tracks are actually pretty good. The first one is instrumental, and the second introduces the female vocals which are above average. Now, these songs are good, but nothing special. They feature more prog rock, and even some metal riffing. However, then the title track hits, and we get 12+ minutes of, well, nothing really. It sounds like one big mish mash of sounds without any structure, meaning, or enjoyment. Honestly, the track "The Captain's Daughter" is nothing but abstract guitar work, random drumming that borders on black metal, and nothing else. It goes on and on, and makes this half-hour album feel like double that amount. The wreckage spills over into the final track that is extremely forgettable.

So, with two okay tracks to start, I thought this would be a solid offering. The last half of this album, however, destroys that. If you like meaningless reverb and squealing, maybe you'll like it. I don't.