Review Summary: One half of the ATDI split strikes out with its first full length album - and the results are admirable.
Sparta were the other part of the Great At The Drive-In schism, and while the Mars Volta headed for the more abstract, genre bending side of music, Sparta went for strong yet sensitive post-hardcore...
Which is by no means a bad thing.
The opener, 'Cut Your Ribbon', leaps out at the listener like a baited dog, with Jim Ward's insistent snarls ("I will find you!") being as forceful as a kick in the gut, and the backing is no less aggresssive - lacerating guitar and furious drums are abound.
"Air" leans more towards emotion for its verses, but the chorus explodes like a stick of dynamite, with a breathtaking impact.
"Mye" is a real standout, with the band showing their knack of knowing when to strike and when to pull back - Ward's relentless chorus yell of "This time I'll get it right!" is very, very believable.
"Collapse" is slower and more melodic, but a great change of pace, with gentle cellos coming in and out - indeed, its bridge of "To set it down / You'll set it down" is of fine anthemic stock.
"Sans Cosm" is an excellent piece of punk immediacy laced with a winning chorus and excellent instrumentation.
"Light Burns Clear" recalls the slower side of ATDI, with its gentle intro, but by the end it is tearing up all in its path just as viciously as any other of the hard-rocking tracks on the album.
"Cataract" begins with choppy breakbeats, before gently heading into normal Sparta fare, with slow, harmonious verses punctuated by rollicking, angered choruses and ending with a superb riff that will stick in your mind for days after.
"Red Alibi" and Rx Coup" are a return to the growl and bite of "Sans Cosm", but this is not an indicator of a drop in quality. Indeed, each track is brilliantly nuanced, with the former's playful verses and the latter's hollered, mighty chorus being excellent high points.
"Glasshouse Tarot" and "Echodyne Harmonic" show Sparta's melodious side once again, but while 'Tarot' sports the welcome heavy passages, 'Echodyne Harmonic' has an electronic edge with flourishes of piano which makes for an interesting display of Sparta's range.
"Assemble The Empire" is one of the best tracks on the album, with a splintered, high-pitched guitar intro, followed by a rocking verse, growling chorus, and an outro which demonstrates Ward's excellent vocal ability, with yowls akin to Ian Mackaye of
Fugazi.
Finally, "Vacant Skies" (which is on the UK edition of the album) although not quite as strong as the rest of the album, is still a good exit to an outstanding album - one which is well worth seeking out, and truly shows that Sparta are very much a band in a class of their own.
