When screamo meets shoegaze
I really had no idea what to expect when I got this mini-EP. Three guys from Philadelphian punk bands Balboa and Towers playing metal-gaze/post-metal? I was sure it would be some kind of absurd novelty that I'd listen to a couple times for a good laugh and subsequently discard. I'll be honest, I can't really appreciate punk music. Outside of hardcore, I think it sounds well... silly. In general, I find the vocals whiny, the music crude, and the performance sloppy (all things that are nearly core to the punk aesthetic). My only exposure to screamo-act Balboa had been though the split with Rosetta, and Towers... well, I'd never heard of Towers at all....
That being said, "Elder" is easily the most creative and enjoyable release I have heard in 2008, bar none. Every time I think post-metal is getting as dreary and repetitive as its rock counterpart, I am stunned by a release such as this one. Elder takes the atmosphere and sonic onslaught of post-metal and infuses its own unique frenetic style.
I confess that it was hard for me to break into screamo-style vocals. Initially, I was drawn to the non-vocal "Shifting Gaze" because it was familiar, instrumental, post-rock. But I quickly realized that "Shifting Gaze" is probably the weakest track; it really brings nothing new to the table. While it is pleasant, it is also somewhat boring.
But the other two tracks easily make up for "Shifting Gaze." What really makes Elder special is the dual vocal assault of Armando Morales and Craig Woods. There is something singularly addictive about Morales' tortured shrieks smothered by Woods' dull roar on "Golden Flower." Screamo seems like such an unlikely match for refined atmospheric music such as Elder makes, but after several spins I really couldn't imagine it any other way. As ridiculous as this may sound, the desperate angst of Morales' screams layered over the quiet, clean guitar melody at the end of "Golden Flower" is both eerie and touching.
The biggest problem with "Elder" is that it's too damn short. It's pretty apparent that this is just a shopping demo that Forge Again issued to test the waters. If the question is whether Elder should continue making music, the answer is an emphatic yes; like I said, this is the most excited I've been all year. My question is why didn't the band just record a couple more songs and release a proper EP? Elder seems to realize that it will be difficult to sell a three song release, so for $10 you get a CD and vinyl. This is great if you enjoy listening to the fairer medium, but if you're digital-only, it's a much tougher decision. Even so, my recommendation would be to cough up the cash. It's worth it.
| Reviewer: Bernard Koch Added: May 3rd 2008 |
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