| Summary: A small-time band with big-time skills that’s definitely worth your attention. |
1 of 1 thought this review was well written
Screamo was derived from hardcore punk. A lot of people seem to forget that aspect of the genre as screamo is constantly getting used more and more for hardcore and metalcore acts. With the last glimmer of old school screamo chaos broken up in the form of the late and great Hot Cross, there is thankfully a just as capable band that is willing to step up and fill their shoes. Circus! Circus! may sound like a horrible lounge act of a name but these boys don’t clown around.
“Brooklyn Nightlife” wastes no time on getting atmospheric like so many bands do with unnecessary intro tracks. Opting for a great picking intro they immediately break into a drumbeat and then suddenly a voice cries out in a wail that is somewhere between a scream and a yell. Hell breaks loose as everything tumbles into a chaotic throwdown that shifts and jitters more than grandpa’s vintage Ford Model T. I cannot guarantee you won’t bust a few lamps in your house before the first song is over. Every song on this album has its own distinct melody and pacing. It might feel melded together on your first listen but you’ll be able to recognize each of the tracks styles the further you listen.
The guitars are primo and probably some of the most intricate rhythm and melody you can get before you start to head into the realm of prog rock. There’s really no way to put into words just how loopy and trippy the guitars can be. Trying to follow them is probably the closest a straight-edge kid like me is gonna get to the feeling of being high on peyote.
The drumming is beyond incredible. His style is schizophrenic yet it fits so well with the guitars that I found myself attempting to emulate his output on my steering wheel anytime I was at a stop light, much to my younger sister’s chagrin. It’s hard to believe that talent like this isn’t being used by a bigger band like Dillinger Escape Plan or such. His capability behind the set cannot be stressed enough. Seriously, his sonic blasts are one of the most compelling things to hit my ears in my life.
The bass is hard to hear amongst all the chaos and even when you hear it it’s not doing anything too incredible like the other set pieces here, but it definitely has some parts where it contributes to the groove and it doesn’t sound like he’s being lazy here either as there’s always pounding one string or another.
The vocals are the weakest part but then again I’m not a huge fan of hardcore punk so these vocals aren’t really in my taste anyhow. But they definitely fit and sometimes it’s a little creepy how close the singer comes to the vocals in Hot Cross. Songs like “Amputee Ball” and “Telepathic Chat” have sections where he emulates the former almost to a dime. His singing is very hard to put a tack on, it switches between shouting and screaming almost each word yet never once does it feel like he forced something out that wasn’t supposed to be there.
It’s surprising that these guys have yet to be recognized fully. They are resurrecting a style of music that is on the verge of extinction and hopefully there will be more bands that can pull it off as well as these guys can, then perhaps we’ll have hope for real screamo. If you were a fan of Hot Cross then I recommend this CD in the fullest, you will not regret it. For those of you looking for something a little more complex in their music than what most people are offering right now, this is a compelling listen. For anyone who doesn’t like hardcore, stay the hell away; this is take no prisoners craziness that might split your ears and overload your brain. If you don’t like hardcore, learn to like it so you can get into this CD because it is definitely one of the better/best releases this year.
Pros:
+It’s intricacy is amazing
+The potential here is mouthwatering
+Mind-blowing guitar work and drumming that will spin your head
Cons:
-Not everyone will like the yell/sing/scream thing the singer has
-First listen through might feel a little blended together
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