Reviewed by Ian Webber

In his latest outing, Shane Ochsner (Hands ex-vocalist) continues to produce a unique brand of post hardcore rock, full of ethereal rhythms and soundscapes. An exception to the majority of artists on Facedown Records, this North Dakota act features clean vocals and very little in the way of growls and screams. In contrast, you are more likely to hear layered harmonies above the double-pedalled drumming that create driving crescendos similar to those of Muse. "Bad Season", with its rumbling, clean guitar work, echoes and washes in the style of a ballad with an impressively haunting guitar solo over the throb of bass. Shane's vocals are now somewhat unrecognisable from the screams of his time in Hands; the hoarse whispers of "I Am Laid Low" balance the growls on the hardest track of the EP. Here he is on the ragged edge between clean harmony and abrasive scratching. Throughout the recording, art rock threatens to break out into an unrelenting wall of noise, but never quite gets there. In fact the majority of this recording has the feel of an experimental outing that never tells a full story - this is probably the most unsatisfactory element of this project. Individually though, each track stands up on its own merits. Fans of intelligent, mature rock that possesses a harder edge will enjoy the likes of "Runaway" with its squeals of feedback and building atmosphere.

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

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