bolgy99
06/30/09, 10:14 AM
Closure in Moscow - First Temple
Record Label: Equal Vision
Release Date: May 5, 2009
Hailing from Melbourne, Australia, but now living in the US, Closure in Moscow are shaking up the music scene with their follow up to 2008’s Debut EP The Penance and the Patience with their latest release, First Temple.
The latest release shows a maturity and musicianship that the EP did not, moving away from their slight post-hardcore influences to produce an epic progressive rock album which places their sound somewhere between Circa Survive, Coheed & Cambria and The Fall of Troy.
Closure in Moscow display their unquestionable abilities from the very first track, setting off at a blistering pace with the opener “Kissing Cousins” presenting some impressive and captivating riffs, tight, crisp drumming and soaring vocals, showcasing what the next 45 minutes will entail.
If you expected the tempo to drop after the first, don’t be disappointed when it doesn’t. It becomes obvious through "Reindeer Age" and "Sweet#Hart" that Closure in Moscow don’t understand the meaning of ‘slow down’. The music itself rarely slows, yet Chris De Cinque’s vocals alter pace and feeling throughout, and the deeper backing vocals from guitarist Mansur Zennelli fit perfectly to compliment De Cinque’s vocal range.
A jazzy intro with crooning vocals leads into "A Night at the Spleen," which displays the guitarists' abilities to play various styles of music, proving they can do more than just play high tempo "chaotic" riffs.
After an almost exhaustive 25 minutes, ‘I’m a Ghost of Twilight’ slows the album to a crawl, displaying more of De Cinque’s deeper range, both vocally and lyrically, taking away the poppy sensibilities of the opening tracks. This is then followed by the haunting echoes of "Permafrost," which plays off the previous track well to enforce a deeper feeling not always noticeable through the faster tracks.
The album takes off again, testing a more experimental side through to the end of the album. Building vocals in "Deluge" and a slow, drawn out chorus makes for an epic track, and time changes and more interesting guitar riffs in "Afterbirth" suggest experimentation in different musical styles, keeping the listener on their toes.
First Temple finishes strongly with the "Arecibo Message" and the heartfelt "Had to Put It in the Soil," with the brief interlude of "Couldn’t Let You Love Me" separating the final tracks. The closing track is somewhat different to most of the album, but it lets the listener know it’s the closer, rather than being "just another track," something which many artists forget.
This album may take a few listens to be able to hear the complexities of some of these songs, mainly due to the many layers of music to pick through and a very clean production, giving a poppy vibe to many of the songs -- well, not so much poppy as just so damn catchy and well composed. The album moves gracefully through from start to finish, slowing to catch its breath through the middle and then hitting hard for the last couple of tracks. Standout tracks include "Sweet#Hart," "Vanguard" for its blistering riffs and killer bass line, "Deluge" as possibly the best track on the album, and the pensive closer "Had to Put It in the Soil," though it is best listened to from start to finish.
In closing, Closure in Moscow have stood their ground, as they have been referred to as Mars Volta rip-offs, and excelled with their latest release. It is hard to shine through in a genre such as this style of progressive rock, particularly when such big stars are already shimmering. Closure in Moscow have made a big step towards establishing themselves with First Temple, and have enough originality to become one of the biggest things to have come out of Australia.
Circa Survive, The Mars Volta
myspace.com/closureinmoscow (http://www.myspace.com/closureinmoscow)
Record Label: Equal Vision
Release Date: May 5, 2009
Hailing from Melbourne, Australia, but now living in the US, Closure in Moscow are shaking up the music scene with their follow up to 2008’s Debut EP The Penance and the Patience with their latest release, First Temple.
The latest release shows a maturity and musicianship that the EP did not, moving away from their slight post-hardcore influences to produce an epic progressive rock album which places their sound somewhere between Circa Survive, Coheed & Cambria and The Fall of Troy.
Closure in Moscow display their unquestionable abilities from the very first track, setting off at a blistering pace with the opener “Kissing Cousins” presenting some impressive and captivating riffs, tight, crisp drumming and soaring vocals, showcasing what the next 45 minutes will entail.
If you expected the tempo to drop after the first, don’t be disappointed when it doesn’t. It becomes obvious through "Reindeer Age" and "Sweet#Hart" that Closure in Moscow don’t understand the meaning of ‘slow down’. The music itself rarely slows, yet Chris De Cinque’s vocals alter pace and feeling throughout, and the deeper backing vocals from guitarist Mansur Zennelli fit perfectly to compliment De Cinque’s vocal range.
A jazzy intro with crooning vocals leads into "A Night at the Spleen," which displays the guitarists' abilities to play various styles of music, proving they can do more than just play high tempo "chaotic" riffs.
After an almost exhaustive 25 minutes, ‘I’m a Ghost of Twilight’ slows the album to a crawl, displaying more of De Cinque’s deeper range, both vocally and lyrically, taking away the poppy sensibilities of the opening tracks. This is then followed by the haunting echoes of "Permafrost," which plays off the previous track well to enforce a deeper feeling not always noticeable through the faster tracks.
The album takes off again, testing a more experimental side through to the end of the album. Building vocals in "Deluge" and a slow, drawn out chorus makes for an epic track, and time changes and more interesting guitar riffs in "Afterbirth" suggest experimentation in different musical styles, keeping the listener on their toes.
First Temple finishes strongly with the "Arecibo Message" and the heartfelt "Had to Put It in the Soil," with the brief interlude of "Couldn’t Let You Love Me" separating the final tracks. The closing track is somewhat different to most of the album, but it lets the listener know it’s the closer, rather than being "just another track," something which many artists forget.
This album may take a few listens to be able to hear the complexities of some of these songs, mainly due to the many layers of music to pick through and a very clean production, giving a poppy vibe to many of the songs -- well, not so much poppy as just so damn catchy and well composed. The album moves gracefully through from start to finish, slowing to catch its breath through the middle and then hitting hard for the last couple of tracks. Standout tracks include "Sweet#Hart," "Vanguard" for its blistering riffs and killer bass line, "Deluge" as possibly the best track on the album, and the pensive closer "Had to Put It in the Soil," though it is best listened to from start to finish.
In closing, Closure in Moscow have stood their ground, as they have been referred to as Mars Volta rip-offs, and excelled with their latest release. It is hard to shine through in a genre such as this style of progressive rock, particularly when such big stars are already shimmering. Closure in Moscow have made a big step towards establishing themselves with First Temple, and have enough originality to become one of the biggest things to have come out of Australia.
Circa Survive, The Mars Volta
myspace.com/closureinmoscow (http://www.myspace.com/closureinmoscow)