Review Summary: RIFF, RIFF, RIFF
Usually, as one grows older they find themselves stuck in their ways, unwilling to accept change or liking new things. I fit into this category due to my undying love for bands and music I discovered in high school. Sure, I dabble in a little bit of everything but really I am stuck in my ways and if I wanted to change, surely I would have found a reason to by now..
I loved A Static Lullaby when they were hitting the Taste Of Chaos stage and proving that My Chemical Romance were a far inferior band in every way. They were one of the many post-hardcore bands flooding the early 2000’s with the duel vocal attack, three vocalists earlier on in their career and whilst they were
good, there was not a lot that made them stand out apart from Dan’s solid cleans from the rest of the bunch.
Enter ‘Rattlesnake’ a Southern Metal influenced Post-Hardcore riff fest that really should have stamped A Static Lullaby at the top of the game but instead they faded into obscurity and broke up after the release. It’s easy to sit back and say, ‘AS IF THIS ALBUM IS ANYTHING SPECIAL’. I was once like you. In 2008 when I picked up Rattlesnake I was letdown. I wanted more of that emo/post-hardcore goodness like ‘The Shooting Star That Destroyed Us All’ I did not get this. I was horrified and so upset that they would do this to me, don’t they know who I AM?
Fast forward to a few years back. I was sitting at home, punching couple cones, and thinking - A Static Lullaby, I wonder what I would think of them now. I decided to run through their discog and I was flooded with warm feelings. Admittingly, their second album ‘Faso Latido’ still stands as one of the worst releases of 2005 and that did not improve. I was hesitant stepping back into ‘Rattlesnake’, scared even. But shiver my timbers from the opening riffing and uncleans of Joe, I. WAS. SHOOK.
The title track here is a riff fest that does not stop. Tell me that breakdown doesn’t get you moving, and I’ll show you someone incapable of movement. Dan’s clean vocals have always been a standout for me. His always been heads and tails above his peers and that is no different here. His vocals are strong and his melodies (‘Mourning Would Come’) are the perfect counterpoint to the endless riffing and Joes brutal performance throughout, check out ‘The Turn’ to see Joe in full force and Dan’s cleans flowing through them perfectly.
The album does not stop. There is not a moment to breathe and take in what is happening. There are no ballads. There are no sad boi anthems that would have fit into any of their previous releases. There is a maturity and confidence in their ability that drips out onto every track here. ‘The Prestige’ and ‘Scavenger Hunt’ has some of Dan’s best riffing, which DOES NOT STOP. The whole damn album the man is ruthless, moving up and down that fret board like nobody’s business, not shredding but just riffing. Endless riffs.
Joe has always been a hit or miss lyricist to me. Clichés ran rampant on earlier releases, and I guess that is to be expected when you lived through that period of music. Here, he has tuned up the sexual overtones and although I should cringe, I do not. Some moments I do sit back and go hmmmm for example –
She's nothing but an aging weathered hole. ‘Everybody's Got A Lil' Fonz n' em’ has my favorite chorus on the album and goes just as hard in the riffing department. I’m telling you peeps; Dan DOES NOT STOP here.
What is there to be said about the cover of ‘Toxic’ that hasn’t been said? You are either going to love it or hate it. Me for one, embrace the cheesiness and love the track. Dan’s cleans are impeccable throughout and Joe’s uncleans come in right where they are needed, and the main riff is anything but TOXIC.
I slept on this album for many years. I was dumb, still am but you shouldn’t do the same. Appreciate what A Static Lullaby produced and get lost in the riffing with me. It’s fun, I promise.
