I really wanted to like this. I really did. I wanted another obscure named band that I liked so I could brag about it and look really cool and far superior to my friends. Really, how many bands do you know with really ridiculous names that are bad. It’s almost a given, if your band has a weird name your good.
Fact is I don't know if I would want to brag about this. I mean, sure the music is decent but it really is nothing I would want to listen to on a regular basis. It really fails to impress. From what I heard they were really fresh and were an indie (which they're not) At-The Drive In. They're an At-The Drive In with half the energy and ummmmm goodness? I never really liked At-The Drive In to begin with and this album really doesn't help to that liking. While this group really has some good ideas on here and potential to make a really good record they just failed to get anywhere far. Some of the songs have post rock similarities that could have potentially worked but they only work half way. The songs can seem to tread on for quite a bit and they seem like they could really use a good rhythmic change or two more often.
The songs do soar sometimes when the guitars play riffs similar to post-rock and it really sounds good. Though sadly those moments don't last long because the singer has to sing sometime. The band couldn't have picked a worse singer. His voice sounds like its cracking sometimes and it’s painful to hear him go to high pitches. Another negative about this album is how it is so pretentious and tries to be overly artsy. I knew right after looking at the band name these guys would be a typical stuck-up indie/rock band wanting to make a name for themselves outside of the bland, mainstream rock. The songs try way too hard at something that could be done very simply. The singer tries to hit multiple notes in little time and fails and when the guitars borrow riffs from At-The Drive In and some of the mainstream emo (I hate to call MCR and similar bands as emo, but everyone recognizes it like that.) they mainly just screw it up.
The title tracks
All Roads To Fault starts out very strong with a cool apocalyptic sounding riff. The awful vocals actually sound good and at home on the first 40 seconds. The guitars get heavier and better but then, OH No! Not the slow sugary melody!! It really brings down the song when he holds an ohhhhh for 10 seconds and sings the lyrics very nasally. Alot of the songs are like this. They start out awesome, but then some bad, sugary melody comes in and ruins it. Like on
First Master Responds the opening is pretty good but the chorus just brings down the quality of the song drastically. They do some really nice guitar doodling though. The opening track's opening riff is great and
Fourthree's echo-ladened chime-like guitar is brilliant. Another band they tend to sound like is Taking Back Sunday.
Fourthree sounds as if it could have made it onto Where You Want To Be. There is one really good song on here though.
Rob The Hed is the last song on here and the best. It really sounds like Drive Like Jehu, and its awesome. No nasal singing, no bad melodies, and no lame guitar riffs. The bass opens it up with this real low rumble and the song has this brooding mood to it that is lightened up during the choruses. The heavy guitar riffs are done like they should be done and the two minutes is pure Godspeed You! inspired greatness. If anything, this song shines a light onto what may come in the future.
These boys are like the ugly brother of At-The Drive In. The riffs can be a bit uninspired and the vocals, quite frankly, they are horrible. If they could continue the brief post-rockesque guitar doodles and the Drive Like Jehu inspired songs than they would win my attention, but for now they will remain at the bottom of my iPod
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i looooove this band
