Anatomy of Habit : "Paired Sentinels"

 

This is the third album I've reviewed by this band, and with each one, they seem to be getting it a little more dialed in. The album has four songs, two of which are over thirteen minutes. The second and last song, respectively.The seven and a half minutes. opening track to this one finds them taking the post-industrial throb and jamming it out with a hypnotic drone that adds layers of sound to build it dynamically. Not complex arrangements, really just taking the theme and running with it. The baritone vocals calling out amid it all. It works in this context, but not sure I would want an entire album of this. 

The second song, "Conditions of Freedom," finds the bass line opening things up, and strummed guitars adding texture. The vocals are less ominous and sound like Interpol trying to pay tribute to Swans, as they are more of a chant than a verse-chorus arrangement. The Swans' influence is much more present here than on the first song, but not as obvious to the common ear as on their last album. Midway into the second song, they ease the build down and add more dynamics. It also gets moodier. before bringing it back in with a pound that recalls Swan's earlier angrier days. 

"The Importance of Risk" is more rooted in their own identity. The bass line grooves more. The vocals shift away from the Michael Gira influence and toward more of a stoned speculation. There is a bit of a hypnotic drone even here, which is just this band's thing. The vocals are a narrative, but not adding a great dealaside a human element. There is a little brighter, more hopeful mood to the title track that closes the album. The guitar melody that comes in brings a more melancholic edge. This might be the album's melodic moment that also brings a tinge of Pink Floyd to things for this reason.They also get closest to their momst metal moment on this album with the riff it all builds up into .  I will give this album a 9, as I think they continue to grow as a band. 

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