Review Summary: I walked a mile in the shoes of the devil...
Coming into Oddnote’s debut release we are given a narrative of existentialism seen through a veil of grim uncertainty. You may be fooled into thinking you are about to delve into your standard upbeat hard rock record from the moment “Money Comes, Money Goes” comes into play in bombastic fashion. However, I implore you to gaze further through the façade to see the bleak and bitter reality of life as seen through the eyes of lead vocalist Arman Asadsangabi.
Throughout Oddnote’s debut it's clear that we’ll be presented with creative lyricism and powerful vocal performances laced with a bittersweet edge. The obscurity of the lyricism draws similarity to the likes of Kurt Cobain or Chris Cornell and also carries the same emotional weight and passionate deliveries. Tracks like “Used” and “Neurons” carry some of the most wholehearted lyrics such as “hold your tongue cause you are all drowning, maybe it's because you allow it” or “deep in the rhythm of your soul, give it a go, to make sense of all of the shadows in your head.” There’s a constant gloominess and deeply personal feeling to every song presented here. Arman’s deliveries help to push the songwriting to an even higher level of emotional connection especially on album highlight “Why”, which showcases Arman’s range from its crooning introduction to its exasperated and edgy raises in pitch. Overall, you can expect plenty of moments where his vocal abilities shine in marvelous splendor.
Aside from its lyricism, Oddnote also boasts plenty of songwriting prowess throughout the track listing. You can expect massive riffs, punchy drums and bumping bass that provides extra power to the killer guitar work. The breakup tracks help to keep a desolate tone while not feeling like filler, and sort of cleanse the palette when approaching each new segment of the album. “Money Comes, Money Goes” shows Oddnote’s ability to let a catchy riff have all the power and become the forefront of a track, which tends to be the scheme of the album as a whole. That’s not to say that we don’t get the occasional melodic moments such as on “615” which carries out a solemn guitar melody that pairs perfectly with Arman’s vocals.
Honestly speaking, you’d never guess this was a debut album if someone were to play it to you. There’s a clear vision presented on Oddnote’s debut album and it’s obvious you can expect a promising future for this young and vigorous hard rock 5-piece.
