MSPAINT : "No Seperation"

The first song on this band's new album seems more focused than what I previously heard from them, even if the rapped vocals are still slightly awkward over the noise that unfolds as the song swells to a crescendo. The vocals still steer them in a more nu-metal direction. The pace picks up on the second song, which works better with what the vocals are doing. The last time I reviewed these guys, I said they were doing their down thing, and this is still true, but polished as the production is on this album, this shifts into a more experimental version of nu-metal. I think the production on this album is the missing piece that was not present on the last one.

 Does this make it something that I am into, not really, but with better production, I can get a clearer picture of who they are and what they are trying to accomplish. The sense of groove in the songwriting is also being perfected on this album. Some of the sounds still contrast greatly, but they fit together much better here. The lyrics are too far on one side of the political spectrum, which makes them too naive to take seriously. "No Separation" is the first song where they throw too much at the wall and it fails to stick as the direction was not clear, and it came across like Temu Linkin Park. 

The vocal approach could also stand to be more varied, as the last song "Angel' works musically, but the vocal approach is rather one-dimensional and bores me a bit. I will give this album an 8.5, as it's an improvement over the previous album and I think this captures a more fully formed vision of what they what to do, it's just not enough of my thing to pull me into it, but this will open up a broader audience for them. It drops on Convulse Records May 23rd. 

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MSPAINT : "Post- American"

 

This band from Mississippi claims to be synth punk and breaking new ground. Perhaps they are. However, the rapped vocals placed them closer to nu metal. The odd novelty of what is going on catches my attention on the first song. This wears off by the second song. The drums are energetic, the synths occupy the space guitars would be if this was POD or Limp Bizkit. They are not going for the same frat boy style of grooves those bands had in the 90s.  The angular touch of the synths strays further from the nu metal sound, the vocals are more shouted than rapped. At least on the first verse. 

"Hardwired" is more aggressive and the chanted chorus is almost catchy. This works better than the more confusing collision of sounds that is "Delete It", things continue down a spiral from there as it heads in more of a Death Grips direction for "S3". The frantic punk of "Decapitated Reality " feels like they are trying too hard.  When things slow down it works better for them. At time there is an industrial feel to the unwieldly synth riffs against the drums. The title track has a little more melody to him to yell over.  "Free From the Sun" reminds me of pre-Patton Faith no More, thought they were more melodic than what is going down here. 

The best lyrics might be on "Titan of Hope" that finds a more hip-hop cadence delivering the lyrics. He is rapping like a new age self-help speaker. Especially when he talks about everything being connected.  There are more aggressive moments like when he commands you to let your mind out the gate. The last song finds the music getting more abrasive, which feels more along the lines of Death Grips, the lyrics are even ranted in a similar manic fashion. I will give this album an 8 it might hold similarities to other artists sonically, but the overall picture is the band doing their thing, and I think they are making the music they set out to accomplish, so while it might not be my thing, they are doing a good job for their intended audience I will give it an 8.