Review Summary: Blown Away
There are a couple of problems with being “blown away” by music. First, you begin to question everything you listened to before and will ever hear from then on, drowning in endless comparisons. Second, you automatically signup for an agonizing endurance trial more commonly known as waiting for the artist to release new material and update his damned MySpace page! Sufficed to say, Miramar is causing me tremendous pain at the moment.
Appearing seemingly out of nowhere, the five man Australian band begins its assault on the world with this debut album entitled “Fight Lights up the Skies”. Comprising of eleven relatively short but equally interesting tracks, the album doesn’t overwhelm nor overstay its welcome. More importantly this debut never feels monotonous, perhaps one of the greatest compliments an album could receive these days.
Upon first listen, the CD blew me away with its intensity and diversity, something I long for in my music but rarely find. Many LPs consist of highlights and fillers, generally maintaining a similar sounding vibe throughout. Here no one song is sloppy but certain tracks will stand out based on tastes in rhythm and heaviness. Even the softest song “Breath” was engaging enough to hold my interest. An achievement considering it’s also the longest on the album. The lyrics are intriguing as well, staying far away from the cliché topics and writing of many current mainstreams. Clearly the band went for quality over quantity.
The same can be said about the members themselves. The vocalist for instance is simply fantastic. His singing, his screaming, his range, his talent in general can be heard on every track. Some may find his voice a tad whiny however as it’s reminiscent of that of “the Used” singer. Nevertheless, there is no denying that it’s powerful and caries this album throughout. The rest of the members play an equally important role with equally impressive results. Listen to a song like “Self-Destruction” and notice how the music changes from start to finish as the instruments add on. You won’t believe you’re listening to the same track and this in the span of four minutes!
Overall and in my opinion, it should constitute a crime to be this talented yet so unknown. When it comes to music these guys are unbelievably creative. The ranges of both their instruments and their vocals are simply astounding. Give “Double Peno” a listen and see precisely what I mean. Looking for melody the likes of The Dear Hunter? You got it. Feel like head banging as if to the old System of a Down? It’s here. Need something catchy to sing along to? Give this a listen and try not to. Honestly, this is the band’s selling point right here, their versatility. This is alternative rock, metal and progressive fused together for maximum quality.
