Review Summary: The perfect post-hardcore album.
What can be said of this album that has not already been said thousands of times before? It is arguably one of the most famous and beloved albums by both fans and casual listeners of the band alike. It is also a cornerstone of modern, progressive post-hardcore. The complexity of the riffs, the clean singing clashing with alternating screams, and raw power masked in clean production make this album a trend setter for later post-hardcore bands. Even now, almost 9 years after the original release, the album sounds just as fresh and original as any album being dropped today. Already lauded for their first two releases, The Fall of Troy and Ghostship, Doppelgänger cemented The Fall of Troy as giants of the genre.
The sophomore LP is far less violent than the first. While some fans may lament the loss of the consistently rough and explosive sound that The Fall of Troy and Ghostship are famous for it is undeniable that Doppelgänger is the most accessible album of the band’s discography because of its solid production quality. There’s no soft mixture here to force you to turn the volume all the way up to get the full effect so the energy seems lessened; on the other hand, the technique is noticeably improved upon. A worthy trade off to me.
However, what is of most note for this album is that it is the perfect sound for the band. This is the definitive album for The Fall of Troy. I believe that it’s the sound that the band, or at least Erak, always desired to make. Take the recycled material. Three songs on here are re-recordings of songs off the self-titled, one is a re-imagining, and one is a more polished version of a song off of Ghostship. While you can argue for or against the changes made it is clear that the band wanted them done for their own personal enjoyment. It is important to remember that The Fall of Troy did not start as a trio. Originally they were a four man band titled The Thirty Years War, but right before the recording of their first LP the second guitarist left. The remaining three re-made their sound in a hurry and ended up with their signature hyper aggressive style. This is quite at odds with the original sound of The Thirty Years War, which is very calm and measured with only a little controlled chaos. The new sound was loud and crazy and contained only one slow song similar to their original work; perhaps their original sound simply sounded empty without a second guitar and frenetic energy filled the void easier?
In any case, this all leads me to conclude that Doppelgänger captures the sound that the band had always strived for: intensity mixed with calm. As the Thirty Years War they were creating the style they desired and with The Fall of Troy they found a concept they liked. Most of The Thirty Years War songs were slow and mainly sung cleanly. The Fall of Troy was chaotic and was almost entirely screamed. Doppelgänger is the merging of the two extremes, of unbridled anger and peace, of two bands into one.
The sound of Doppelgänger is undoubtedly energetic still, but there’s a slick, shiny coat over all of it. The second track, “Act One, Scene One,” features heavy use of clean vocals and a fantastical ending that slips and fades away. Likewise the recreated “Mouths Like Sidewinder Missiles” starts off incredibly aggressive and fast paced, but the second half of the song is far slower and features some impressive mixing with fade-ins from multiple guitars. It’s utterly beautiful. For every straight energy song like “Laces Out Dan” there is a more relaxed and middle of the road song like the fan favorite “F.C.P.R.E.M.I.X.” While it’s undeniable that the album is still rough and tough like The Fall of Troy it is also noticeably and enjoyably smoother.
With all this in mind it seems obvious to me that Doppelgänger is the band’s magnum opus. Unforgettable riffs, gorgeous singing, beautiful production, powerful screams, and a lasting power grace the album start to end. This is the album that you guide people to as a launch pad for The Fall of Troy and the album you point to for some of the greatest songs of the genre. It is truly a masterpiece of post-hardcore.
Top 3 Tracks:
Mouths Like Sidewinder Missiles
Act One, Scene One
Laces Out, Dan!
