Reviews

Released first on Rise Records, and now being re-released on Equal Vision, “Odd How People Shake” is the first effort from Colorado kids Fear Before the March of Flames. The recording was done quickly, but the cd retains a pretty good quality throughout. The first thing that struck me actually was the cd cover, which is a surreal cityscape on a sky of flames sinking into the ocean while a silhouetted pair ballroom dance on the shore. Pretty sick. The cd also comes with a live video, but on to the music. They have a familiar two singer formula, one on singing and the other on screaming. The singing voice is pretty high pitched and crooning, while not too annoying, but the scream is real thick and almost always layers behind the singing. Because its layered it makes it easier to ignore any annoyance I might have had with the traditional singing voice. The guitar is scratchy and dirty sounding, but not sloppy. Overall, they mix the frantic feel of Converge, with the melodic feel of some Thursday songs, and time changes of a band like Botch (not quite Dillinger Escape Plan though). The best thing about this effort is that it actually is very original in its material. They utilize all the musical aspects which they combine in a different structure than has become the readymade Thursday/Taking Back Sunday screamo pattern. Take a listen to the sixth track, “The 20th Century Was Entirely Mine” for a perfect example of the way that they link all of their facets into a novel but still complete formula. The only problems are that it is pretty short, a little over a half an hour when you subtract the 10 minute piano outro, and sometimes a little poorly recorded. I am, however, impressed with this, especially as a first effort, and very excited to see what the new full-length will sound like.