Review Summary: Another overlooked emo band.
One day on my fruitless journey to find something similar to emo/indie bands with that Midwestern style I came across And None of Them Knew They Were Robots’ self titled album. Initially, I was impressed with what I was hearing. There were plenty of nice chord progressions and soft to loud dynamics that were well executed. It was chaos and beauty at once. After a while, however, I felt that the album was just a cheap rip off of many bands of that style so I came to the conclusion that it was not worth listening to. Nevertheless, I would return to it months later. This time I approached it with a different attitude and did not anticipate it to sound like any other band I have previously heard within the genre.
I was able to appreciate the music for what it was: an excellent display of emo influenced rock with a neat hardcore twist to it. I would then realize that I could not compare it to any other hardcore or indie band I could think of and that was what made it stand out. Sure, there were some comparisons. For example, in the fourth track ‘Instrument,’ the band gives a reminiscent vibe of Christie front Drive with crushing riffs as well as powerful crescendos. There were sometimes moments in the album that were not very melodic or captivating, but not long after that part there would be a soaring chorus or bridge that brought me back to my initial like for it. Another trademark this band had going for them was that they knew how to hit sour notes and chords and get away with it. So, in the end I was able to look past my want for a specific sound I already had heard and take
And None of Them Knew They Were Robots for the well developed aggressive emo album that it was.
