Review Summary: Swedish Trance Metal
Trance metal is an odd genre. A niche genre, yet an odd one. It seems as if a bulk of the bands try for a death metal or metalcore sound, and just throw synthesizers into the mix, leaving their songs sounding disjointed and out of place. Because of this, few of these bands are even remotely memorable. Is Escape the Day one of those bands, or do they stand out in this genre?
Hailing from Gothenburg, Sweden, Escape the Day are a seven piece outfit who have a unique twist on the trance metal genre. Instead of focusing on trying to be heavy, the focus is on having a poppier, almost radio friendly sound.
And while bands like His Statue Falls and Silent Descent have tried, and failed, with this sound a bit in the past, what really makes Escape the Day's sound work is their two vocalists; Sebastian Ekstrand and Maria Petersen. Both are lead vocalists, clearly competent at their craft, often going back and forth, trading verse after verse, and even harmonizing with each other. This leads to some of the catchiest songs you'll find in the genre, and choruses that will get stuck in your head for days on end.
With all of that being said, it's also a bit of a downfall of the release. Though the catchy hooks and harmonies definitely work on some songs (Turn Back Time, I'll See You In My Dreams, Tears), they don't work on every song, and it seems the band had aimed for each song to have that catchier-than-life chorus. This leads to some of the songs sounding rather bland, and are forgettable.
Another downside to the song is the lack of technicality from the members behind the two vocalists. The synths, though fitting with the music, are what you'd expect. The guitar chugs along in the background, the drums pound along as you'd expect, with the occasional disco beat added in to let you know when it's the chorus. Oh, and the bass, it's inaudible.
With all that being said, this release is surprisingly enjoyable. Despite the lack of technicality, and a few forgettable tracks, the band produces a catchy sound that is rather unique for the genre.
Recommended tracks:
Tears
I'll See You in My Dreams
Turn Back Time
