Review Summary: A little known metalcore gem full of groove, dissonance, and a dark, dense atmosphere.
3 of 3 thought this review was well writtenHardcore is a vast genre that encompasses several different sub-genres. There are so many bands out there to look into that sometimes good bands can be swept under the rug, albeit unintentionally. One such band,
Kashee Opeiah, is a metalcore band from Chemnitz, Germany that has gotten little to no exposure since it's debut album
Panic In Solitude, and it’s too bad since the album is pretty great. Released on the German indie label Whirlwind Records in 2006, this album deserves to be heard.
Panic In Solitude is a concept album. Each track flows into the next, giving musical backing to the story inside the lyrics, which depict a man on a journey to find his true purpose in life. The album gives off a feeling of isolation and longing that adds some real depth emotion to the music. Similar to being inside a tsunami, the music flows over you and drowns you in the unrelenting waves. The album is crushing to say the least, starting off with some feedback before blasting the listener in the face. Musically, it is reminiscent of early
Norma Jean and
Botch with some
Meshuggah thrown in, trading off between palm-muted riffs and dissonant lead lines while constantly shifting tempos and time signatures. The band’s main appeal however, lies in the heavy use of groove and jazz rhythms. Songs like
Oh, Endless Ocean! Oh, Poor Me! and
Kept by a Numerical Control feature some incredibly catchy riffs that will leave you banging your head for days. The harsh vocals are mostly the same throughout, with some short spoken word passages being the only change in style.
With a running time of 62:26,
Panic In Solitude can be a bit of an investment, but there are several breaks throughout the album that lessen the monotony.
Within the Thoughts of a Puppet starts with a very melodic dual guitar passage that break into a heavy, yet still melodic chorus.
After this Act of Deliverance also offers a short rest, starting with a slow melody and building into a massive post-metal riff.
Altogether,
Panic In Solitude is a great metalcore debut from a band that needs much more exposure. A long running time and little variety in the vocals may drag it down a bit, but not enough to say that this album isn’t worth listening to. Recommended to fans of hardcore and metalcore.
