Review Summary: Fun, high tempo electronic goth rock.
One day while strollin through the mall I decided to finally check out the Hot Topic. Typically I hate that place as it's usually overrun by weirdo's and not really my scene. Looking for music I found a band called The Birthday Massacre. The name of the band and the cover suprised me. The innocence of the album art and the violent name gave it a sinister edge which seemed very appealing to me. What I heard was not what I was expecting to hear at all. After giving it a run, I had to buy it right away, never hearing anything quite like that in my life. The Birthday Massacre play a highly interesting mix of industrial, new wave, electronica, and alternative showered in gothic influences. More or less they create more upbeat and postive music then what their contemporaies play.
Chibi -Vocals
M. Falcore-Lead Guitar
Rainbow -Rhythm Guitar, Sequencing
O.E. Bass
Rhim -Drums
Owen- Keyboards
The Birthday Massacre formed in Toronto Canada around the year 2000, releasing three full length CD's in the process. Violet is their second release. Musically they have a style of their own, garnering many influences from many types of music and rolling it up into one sound, but not able to be pidgeonholed into any single genre of music. The music they play is very happy and uplifting music, yet still has that dark edge providing the mystery factor in the music. Their shows bring fans of all types of music together to watch a spectacle unfold upon them. Some people are gonna let the image of this band get to them and immediately turn this off as just another goth band following trends, however, dont be fooled about that, just give it a chance.
Violet brings upon music filled with guitar riffs holding the rhythm's as the electronic's take over the music, giving it a personality, while Chibi's voice adds a poppy vibe to the ongoing music. Falcore and Rainbow(mind you) mainly hold down their parts by playing power chords throughout the disk.; Introducing a heavy edge to the heavy electronic parts being distributed by Owen and Rainbow. The electronica effects are well executed, adding energy ridden beats of various genres to the high tempo music being played. You just can't stand still like a tree while hearing what is being played, this music gets the blood flowing and kickstart's my body to go with the flow and just move along. The drumming isnt too technical or blast beat heavy as opposed to the music I always listen too, rather just keeping the beat and adding to the mix of styles merging into the music. Chibi's voice fits perfectly into this kind of music, adding various tones and ranges just adding to the atmosphere. adding a poppy yet haunting edge to the music being played. The atmosphere of the songs is undeniably what makes this band special, which is why they have massive cult like followings. Nothing in the music is too technical, it's just the right balance of musical skill to have people movin around instead of asleep with prog theatrics
The catchieness of this music is undebatable as tracks like "Happy Birthday"show their colors early on. The singing fits perfectly into the electronica drenched music being played, as the first track "Lovers End" demonstrates. Opening with a dark sinister keyboard line, the industrial effect right after, punches you in the face as the chilling voice of Chibi comes in, giving the track a dark ominous tone until the lighthearted chorus shows itself, as it revolves back and forth from dark to light. Their are many standout tracks to be found, all having the same quirky tone to it.
Anybody with an open mind should give this band a try as even I, a devout metalhead of the Sputnik Music Site,is delving more into the goth rock scene. Im not really suprised with all the attention being given to The Birthday Massacre. They are a band who deserves the hype, a band that just focuses on havin a good time, nothin more.
