Review Summary: We wish our lives were different,
But they wouldn't be our lives
Anytime an experimental troupe that has been subject to critical acclaim releases an album, expectations are never far. Fear Before (The March of Flames) sprung their self-titled effort upon an awaiting audience on the heels of their most notable artistic contribution, The Always Open Mouth. Ironically, those who joined late on their discography largely weren’t expecting the twists that are Fear Before’s trademark.
Where The Always Open Mouth succeeded, the Self-Titled (S/T) diverged; losing the lust for unpredictable structures and hauntingly, hyperbolic tones for a “mature” appreciation for traditional structures and a frank outlook. This evolution is a double-edged sword, as online forums have already attested to, but the sound and impact are significant enough to shift their fan base instead of aborting their future savior (a la New Wave).
The overall composition immediately loses momentum that Open Mouth had built with one of the weaker tracks, “Treeman”, but does set the attitude that will be carried throughout. The first line, “I'm bleeding but I'm alive” presents an underused perspective in most intentionally overdramatic “core” genres: a forthright lyrical direction. This climaxes several times throughout this album but most notably in “Get Your Life Together” with the biting, quote “It seems as though I've lost it all but // I've still got my eyeballs // Ten fingers and toes.” Ultimately, these decisions grow to complement a muscular and concise musical backing.
The instant impression from Fear Before is accessibility; a bittersweet taste for many longtime fans that shun such mainstream bows. To FB’s credit, the intricacies are still present; Jabberwocky’s nonsensical, metaphorically-muddled content (a nod to Lewis Carroll’s classic poem) has a sputtering, shoegazen guitar fading in and out of attention, while “Everything’s Not ***ty” displays dark, complex noises and sound bites that stay hidden without an active listener and a good set of headphones. Vocal overlays in “Tycho” reinforce previous ideas about Fear Before; they are studio-children who have the meat in their mastery wound up for repeated listens.
Weaknesses sit nestled alongside the very strengths of this work, but overall a credible and proud addition has been tacked into an enjoyably interesting discography. Though each turn in their careers will lose/make fans, it’s certain at this point that, yes, “Fear Before Doesn't Listen To People Who Don't Like Them” and, somehow, they will fight to “Stay Weird.”
