Review Summary: Organs, guitars, bass, and drums have never sounded better.
After so many bands try to throw in the whole, "Experimental/Indie/Punk" or whatever you want to call it, you really want to give up on finding a actual decent band in that area because they just really only play mediocre music that has nothing experimental except for a few synthesizers here and there. So, after getting pretty agitated with so many of those bands failing, I come across The Pixel Panda. I prematurely wrote them off before listening to them as just another band who in reality just plays loud music. Well, what I got was a slap in the face as during the four tracks I heard, I couldn't stop dancing and swiveling in my chair. Combining the elements of screamo, indie, dance punk, and experimental, The Pixel Panda really don't hold back and go for it all on Burial Site. Where other bands have failed, they not only succeed, but decide to be the kings of what they do.
First, a quick history of the band. They released another full length called The Nation of Symmetry which was basically At The Drive-In combined with the Blood Brothers and The Locust and with a bit of latin pop. Since that album, the band has truly matured and writes more complex music and gets rid of the duo vocals. As the album kicks off with A Ghost Whisperer I truly got the feeling of Antioch Arrow (more like the song Too Bad You're Gonna Die). As the album continues you start getting sucked in more and more and start just dancing. You go through one track and then all of a sudden realize, you are listening to the next track without losing the feeling of joy you are getting while listening to the album. Happy Hunting Ground is really eerie and just really sticks to your head. Sangre Seca is definetly a personal favorite of mine mainly because the music on that track just really captures what this band is about. As you go along, Unfortunate Nightmare is a catchy little number really capturing the imagination of what the band is set out to do.
What I truly love about this band is their ability to combine all these elements of music, and not make the listener feel like its just too much to take. They know how to make the songs catchy and complex at the same time. The vocals are honest, and I mean honest in the way that they are not forced and they have the feeling of just naturally flowing and the screams are kept to a minimal only used when they are effective. Musically is where this band really shines throughout the album really creating sort of a atmosphere that they are inviting you to and you cant help but refuse. At times, the music is just playing with no vocals and you are kept in a trance. The organs feel like they are coming straight from Ray Manzarek and play a major part as well in the music. Two complaints though. One, sometimes they get a bit too chaotic in the more heavier parts. And two, the album really doesn't end so well Cold Hands Dead Eyes just being a ok track compared to the rest of the album. But other than that, The Pixel Panda are leagues above most bands.
Truly a great piece of work by a band who wears panda masks when they perform live. They will only improve as time goes on. In the meantime, it's The Pixel Panda's world, and they are wanting you in it.
