Black Bouquet : "Pray to the Knife"

 

This is an interesting indie rock band out of North Carolina, who experimentally paints the songs with androgynous vocals and grandiose swells in a My Chemical Romance-like cabaret at times. There is a very theatrical flare to what they do that I appreciate since rock bands do not go big like they once did. The second is very different, though falls into a more emotional form of pop punk, that goes light on the punk side of that equation. Synth helps with the grooves here. The quivering sneer of the vocal of the vocals brings an overabundance of My Chemical Romance comparisons. Going into " Serpents" this is almost more exaggerated if not for the dancier tempo that has more in common with the Killers. Any of the darkness hinted at earlier in the album has been danced away.

You gotta give it to these kids for being ambitious. The album is also well produced considering how much they have going on here. While it might be a less radio-oriented sound,  the vocals would sit better back against the guitars. The bass line leading into "Footsteps" adds a little more creep into the song movement. There are lots of subtle layers of sound applied to this song. They also put a great deal of thought into how the arrangement would dynamically flow, which I respect. There is more of a late 80s synth riff that keeps 'Carved" in motion. I can also hear touches of Muse influence sprinkled in, so this is not just a My Chemical Romance tribute. 

It makes sense that a song titled "Prom" would sound like emo disco. This would have been huge in 2004. The song's more melodic segues work really well. From the first song they had me wanting more dark moments like the direction they head in on "A Window With No Curtains".  The intensity they build the song with makes it the album's strongest moment, They rock out more like Placebo on "Ashes". When a more deliberate bass line is applied to a song like "Run and Hide" the results are more effective. Though it's not the album's strongest chorus. The sonic freakout at the end of "No More Blood" might exceed their grasp. The last song has the kind of dramatic build you expect from these kids at this juncture in the album. I will give this album an 8.5  not  something I will find myself listening to above and beyond reviewing the album, but there is an audience for it, and they accomplished what they set out to do , which is impressive as it was ambitious. 

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