Review Summary: Less dynamic and intriguing than most of both bands' contemporaries, Takaru and A Light In The Attic combine their metallic forces to create a great, albeit generic and stagnant, release.
In the modern screamo scene, it seems that all has become stagnant. A once fresh invention by the likes of Orchid and Saetia has now become rehashed in scores of different ways. Bands like I Would Set Myself On Fire For You try to be different with their eclecticism. However, bands like these often do not intrigue for long enough to be completely noteworthy. Others, such as the early works of Loma Prieta, are neither original nor interesting. It seems that very few bands get it entirely right. The vocal stylings of the catchy Love Like... Electrocution helped their ability to intrigue shine while the transcendence of the more recent Circle Takes The Square aided them like a doting mother with an ill child. Several more bands in this genre have left their mark with their signature quirk, but Takaru's quaint footprint is less evident and far less special than that of their contemporaries.
From the relentless and abrasive “160 Lbs. Of Fury” to the mid-range vocals, it becomes clear that Takaru are attempting at splicing the genres of metalcore and screamo. This hybrid, whilst not the most inventive amalgamation in the world, does have some palpable potential; however, its execution is flawed. On their half of this split, an aural assault is frequent, and it eventually becomes repetitive and boring. Rather than coming up with intriguing forms of discord, Takaru prefer a more familiar and direct form of their craft. This leaves plenty to be desired. Nevertheless, there is still hope. Some of the songs that Takaru contributes do have immense potential. Some fulfill this potential better than others. “1894 Revisited” shows Takaru placing the component of difference within the song. Unlike some of the other tracks, most notably “Cowardly Feeding Silence”, disparity is evident, and the stark contrast greatly improves the overall product of the release. Subsequently, the track prospers along with “True Mathematics”. It is these moments that make Takaru's half of the split a worthwhile, albeit flawed, part of a release. Metallic screamo is also evident on the beginning half of this split, crafted by A Light In The Attic.
From the hardcore stylings of “Movements and Monuments” to the rigid cavalcade of musicianship that is “The Remembered Break In Time”, the five tracks A Light In The Attic composed and lent to this split follow a similar path to that of Takaru's six tracks. Undeniably heavy and bellicose, the arrangements present are all good, but very few stand-out tracks let the split shine as it could and should. If less stagnancy had been present on both sides of the release, the album would have improved for the better by a large amount. Because even though tracks like “Cowardly Feeding Silence” are not poor compositions by any stretch of the imagination, the collection of so many similar tracks can lead to an overwhelming sensation. It is the highlights that are found on both sects of the split that allow the release to be great rather than just good. However, there is a positive aspect of the music that comes from this constant aural assault. It is a fun listen. When tracks like “Movements and Monuments” arrive in the track list, the constant dissonance and aggression can act as a steady source for intrigue. This mode of piquing the listener's interest make the release less dynamic than a crop of other screamo splits out there, but it's enjoyable nevertheless.
