Genghis Tron : "Signal Fire"

 

Every five years is the average release rate for this band, as this marks the fourth album of their 20-year career. Their first album, "Dead Mouth Mountain," blended early metalcore sounds with electronics, and they have been slowly evolving past the more abrasive elements of this formula. Their new album puts the band closer to what someone like HEALTH does, though less industrial in their intentions. The balance of atmospheric and edge is more enthralling here, as it is full of hooks. Where the last album stepped away from harsher vocals, they are back in the mix here, but used as more of a dynamic vocal color. 

There is a more 90s alternative feel to the title track that embraces more of a grungy Smashing Pumpkins-like groove. Nick from Sumac joins them on drums as Kenny from the Armed steps in to handle bass duties. On a song like "Future Worship," these more organic instruments are not felt as strongly in the mix, as they are emulating what synths and plug-ins for a synth-wave project might do. That is, until the guitar kicks in midway through the song. "Like Fotocrom" offers a lush melodic atmosphere that drifts you out into the dusk. There is a tension that builds but never gains release. It almost feels like the intro to "Tomorrow Mirage". 

At this point in the album, "Tomorrow Mirage provides the needed shift in vocal colors. The harsher vocals trade off with the sung vocals, but not in the predictable Myspace metal manner. The album's most impressive drumming flows under this to maintain the momentum. You could call the wandering exploration of sounds they embark on prog rock if you wanted. "Nothing Blooms in the Hollow" launches into an almost Dillinger Escape Plan-like chaos before finding its groove. The intricate cascading riff further solidifies their place in the sound of prog in 2026.

"Without Form" is just a synth interlude that leads into "Born Prey". where they balance the snarl of hardcore with dreaming throbbing. This spastic tantrum is slightly a regression from where the album had been leading us. "A Love So Pure" is the album's most effective balance of their screamo past with progressive present. "New Gods" closes the album with a more electronic ambiance, guiding the hypnotic pulse of what they have been doing on this album. It's the most Nine Inch Nails-leaning moment so far. This works for me. Overall, I will give this album a 9.5. Sure, the parts comprising what they do are not as unique as how they are assembled. Fans for metal core than goes prog more often than not will appreciate this alongside their fan base, who are expecting change. 

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The Armed : "Perfect Saviors"

The fifth album from this collective finds things moving in a more indie rock and less confrontational direction. I know this album has a ton of various people that guest on each track, but we are just going to focus on the songs and how good they are.  "FKA World" finds more punkish drive propelling the song beyond the typical slacker jangle that would otherwise be accompanying the lazy croon of the vocals. "Clone" finds the jangle of guitar accelerating in intensity as screamed vocals create a swathe of white noise underneath the chorus. "Modern Vanity" has more of a St. Vincent feel before screamed vocals come in over the groove. While there are some cool guitar sounds here, it does not feel the entirety of the song flows as well as the previous song. 

The vocal hook to "Everything's Glitter" is effective and captures the feeling conjured by the lyrics well. The guitars are not as spastic in their tense racing around the vocals, but work well. "Burned Mind" has  an 9-s electronic underpinning to it. The vocals contribute less, with lyrics that get buried when things build into what amounts to the chorus. Musically it sounds like an unreleased Garbage b-side. This album is really well produced , as the use of effects on the vocals to "Sport of Form" work well. The noise applied to the dynamics is refined. They sound like a punk band covering Depeche Mode on "Patient Mind". Another song that benefits from more attention to detail in post-production.  

"Vatican Under Construction" is a little more plodding and less compelling in terms of groove and melody than the previous songs. The drums and bass are punchier underneath everything, but the undercurrent is one of the few moments that the normally keen mix misses. "Liar 2" makes up for this with a very sleek futuristic feel, to the pop tinged alt rock that dances out. It might be one of the album's strongest songs in terms of hooks. "In Heaven" is a ballad that this album doesn't really need. The album closes with the more atmosphere jazz meanders of "Public Grieving" which sounds cool but just kind of floats off. I will give this album an 8.5, which puts it behind "Unpop" that got ranked a 9. The reason for this being the aggression underlying "Unpop" made it more focused, than where this album wanders to. With that said this album is better in terms of production and the melodic nature of the vocals , so in some ways it depends on what you want from these guys.

10.9

the Armed ; "ULTRAPOP"

 

These guys caught my attention with an absurd music video that just happened to also rock . The title tracks is more of an atmospheric intro than a song, they kick into what they really do with the rowdy "All Futures" . It is a rowdy all out barrage that makes me think of what it might sound like if Deafheaven was jamming with Andrew WK. I appreciate the lust with which they go for it here even if it tramples the finer points of song writing. They start touching on that with " A Life So Wonderful" the vocals are buried in the din of what the rest of the band is doing causing the melody to wade through the sonic murk. If you are really into chaos then this album might appeal to you. I can say while I have liked the first two songs I am hoping they pull it together and give me songs I can sink my ears into . 

The deliver something more song focused with "An iteration" . It is kind of like the Pixies , mixed with Dinosaur Jr. There is a woozy shoe gaze like guitar tone in places. Their bass player is really melodic and able to get it here.  They go into a temper tantrum allowing the dam of chaos to burst once more. The vocals are female this time around. "Average Death" feels like more of a compromise, they have the slacker indie rock melody going with the vocals , but tempo wise keep their foot on the gas. There is more of an explosive Black Flag element to "Faith in Medication" .  It is far from straight forward punk as there are all these crazy layers of sounds going on.  The indie rock vocals offer their indifference before the storm of " Where Man Knows Want". 

"Real Folk Blues" is like if Sonic Youth had a more drastic freak out .  They shift into a more electronic mode with "Bad Selection" . The drums do not chill but still work with what's going on as the vocals create more of the mood. Mark Lanegan joins them for the last song that is much darker and what I want to hear them dip into more.  Overall I like this album, is it going to be the album of the year, well we are not at May yet , but unless we are just talking punk I think not likely since I am going to give this one a