Pupil Slicer : "Blossom"

 

This British band has gained a bit of buzz. They play a experimental style of metal core they blends a diverse  array of styles and sounds. In doing so they also at times show the problem with diversity when taken to far is the song often become a maze with no integral core to give it form and function. Instead sound are thrown in to create a formless haphazard  chaos. It is impressive on the first track that attempts to be a song, by the time we get to "Departure in Solitude" I begin to wonder if all the tricks are a distraction from not being able to write a song. They then come back to show more promise going into "Creating the Devil in Our Image" that starts off with moodier melody found in the guitars that gets lost in spastic explosion. 

I think what the Callous Daoboys did with their album last year was more effective when in came to songwriting as the gave you enough moments to get hooked in. The androgynous voice of Kate Davies howls with great distress on "the Song at Creations End"; This song flows better than the more grind core centric temper tantrum that is "No Temple". It is a song that might be fun live, but not doing a lot for me in the present moment. I prefer the moments of angular dissonance they unfurl on "Terminal Lucidity" . "Language of the Stars" is just an instrumental interlude that does not add to the larger narrative of the album.

I can understand the Deafheaven comparisons when it comes to the moody start of "Dim Morning Light". Kate blends her singing voice more as it is called upon to create more of a shoe gazing sound. Her snarl is also very effective at providing the needed dynamic contrast. The title track finds them taking cues from bands like Code Orange and stream lining things to a less diverse more  focused sound that lends itself to a memorable melody.  I will give this album an 8.5, as much as it tries to be transgressive in the confrontational nature of it's explosion they do rein things in enough to write decent songs by using restraint more often than not.