Off Minor on this Record Is:
Steve Roche - Drums
Jamie Behar - Guitar
Kevin Roche - Bass
3/5ths of the New York screamo band Saetia formed Off Minor after Saetia broke up in 1999. Two of those original members are on this recording. The lineup consists of Steve Roche on drums, Jamie Behar on guitar, and Kevin Roche on bass. Perhaps what makes Off Minor so special is how much noise they are able to get out of 3 instruments, whether it be in the form of chaos or beauty. Combining both traits in the same way Saetia did, Off Minor represents the true emo scene; a difficult blend of elegance and brutality that put together forms something truly amazing.
The first track of Innominate shows that Off Minor has gotten pissed off since their last record. Featuring harsher vocals, heavier guitar lines and darker lyrical imagery, "Cadaveric" starts the album off on a high note. Brutal to beauty is the idea that Off Minor follows so during "Cadaveric" the song goes from harsh screaming sections into beautiful orchestrated instrumental pieces. "Cadaveric" is followed by "Killed for Less" an ode to the problems with America"s healthcare, their anger towards the system is presented in the harsh screaming of "How much was paid for this s
hit to stay the same another day?"
"Inadequate in Absence of You" is an ode to Matt Davis who was the lead singer of Ten Grand/The Vidablue and is now deceased. The first 40 seconds of this song are extremely harsh but the middle breaks into a beautiful instrumental with the guitarist playing harmonics and the bassist taking control of the melody, this track is definitetly a highlight of the album, as well as being one of their more upbeat tracks.
After two great tracks (Demolition Heuristic and IN SL) that follow the similar pattern of harsh vocal parts and beautiful instrumental parts an instrumental called "Devil Ether" is up next. Unlike the instrumentals off of Off Minor"s previous release "The Heat Death of The Universe", "Devil Ether" is a much harder yet still extremely melodic song that really helps set the pace for the next two songs on the album.
"Allele" is probably the weakest track on the album, clocking in at just over a minute, yet it helps up prepare for what in my opinion is one of Off Minor"s best tracks in their history. "Family Circus" is a 5 minute long closer that embodies everything I love about Off Minor: It has great lyrics, great guitar and bass interplay, and beautiful interludes. The rising bass part that the album ends on is probably one of the greatest lines I"ve ever heard and how it ends with what seems like a never ending emotionally draining line of "You, f
uck you, I learned by watching you" After the music begins to fade out the 3 minutes of silence that follow almost seem like a recovery to what you just heard.
The cd version of this album has a bonus track, which is just a re-recorded version of "Staring Down the Barrel Limited Options" which in my opinion is far better than the original version.
Overall Innominate is a solid album that is emotional charged and instrumentally elegant. If Saetia were to continue as a band I"m sure something like this album would"ve been released sometime in their history and I"m glad to see that Off Minor continues to carry the torch Saetia lit when they began playing in 1997. Perhaps the only flaw of this release is the length, due to the fact that it leaves the listener feeling like more should come. Innominate is a nearly flawless album besides the few minor issues it has and that is why I give it a"
4.5/5
This Message Edited On 07.11.07
