Throat : "We Must Leave You"

 

This experimental band from Finland is taking a darker more post-punk turn with their new album. The band claims this is their break up album with the world. Which is a common theme I am hearing in many of the albums I have reviewed recently. Primordial, Fange, the Armed, Protomartyr and Dying Fetus all their share this theme on their new albums. What stand out about these guys is the dark and foreboding mood that hangs over their otherwise melodic musings. The dead pan baritone of the vocals serves as the narration for this. When the pace picks up it's more punk in it's intentions. 

The sonic pound leading into "the Transaction" drops down into something that files in line with other bands in the post-punk revival like Bellicose Minds or Alaric. The bass line creeps the groove along, while things retain a more muscular punk quality than bands who go in a more Joy Division direction. The lower vocal refrains taking a more overt goth approach. I like the bass line that drives "Trespassing" but if I am going to be honest, the song fall more closely in line with what other bands trying to emulate this sound are doing and bear less of the band's unique finger print.." Hearsay of Heresy" is more like something King Dude might do if going in a more rock direction. It mainly works off a stagnant tension. 

The album regains it's momentum with "Tiny Golden Murder". It is when the band uses contrasts sound like the reverbed guitar on this song with the more shouted vocals that things come together in a celebration of opposites. There is a Killing Joke like vibe to it that I appreciate. It soars off into a brighter space which is fine as the album overall has been plenty dark so this shimmer is a justified color. The album ends with a turn toward as more hypnotic shoe gazing atmosphere that comes closer to the Cure in ambiance.  I will give this album an 9, as it darkly grooves in a manner I prefer, though the songs do not draw you in with the same kind of graceful songwriting that a band like Grave Pleasures possess to give them the edge on these guys.