npmshah
01/05/10, 09:16 PM
Sherazada – The Hunger Artist
Record Label: Unsigned
Release Date: July 1, 2009
Screamo. Even the word itself is cringe-inducing. Beaten to death by wave after
wave of generic scream-sing-scream bands, modern day screamo conjures up images of neon-tinged boy bands hoping for a piece of the Jac-Vanek-clusterfuck crowd. With the opening notes of The Hunger Artist, I was under the impression that Sherazada was just another one of these bands. But multiple listens have revealed an amount of depth in Sherazada’s music that is not present in many of today’s one-dimensional acts.
While much of the album follows a standard scream-sing-scream (or vice versa) formula, repeat listens helps the listener discern an impressive amount of technical skill and balance within the band’s tunes. This is perhaps most evident in album highlight “Last Rites.” Opening with dueling guitar solos, the band manages to combine crushing breakdowns with a clean vocal delivery reminiscent of a Bullets-era Gerard Way (which is quite fitting, since Sherazada are now kings of the scene where My Chemical Romance claims its roots). Unfortunately, despite their impressive strengths, the band also suffers from a bout of the generic. “Echoes In The Hall,” given some cleaner production, would blend in perfectly on a Silverstein record.
Overall, Sherazada have crafted a fairly decent record that shines like a beacon when compared to many of their contemporaries. While not completely original, the band manages to breathe some life into a tired, highly commercialized genre. Perhaps with cleaner production, Sherazada can rise above their local roots and become the next “it” band. After all, it would be nice to see a hard working band ascend to national renown. Personally, I will eagerly await Sherazada’s next release, but will be satisfied with The Hunger Artist’s tunes until it is ready.
Silverstein, A Day To Remember, Alesana, Blessthefall
www.myspace.com/sherazada (http://www.myspace.com/sherazada)
1. Intro
2. Echoes In The Hall
3. Life Within The Sound
4. The Hunger Artist
5. Last Rites
6. Persephone
Record Label: Unsigned
Release Date: July 1, 2009
Screamo. Even the word itself is cringe-inducing. Beaten to death by wave after
wave of generic scream-sing-scream bands, modern day screamo conjures up images of neon-tinged boy bands hoping for a piece of the Jac-Vanek-clusterfuck crowd. With the opening notes of The Hunger Artist, I was under the impression that Sherazada was just another one of these bands. But multiple listens have revealed an amount of depth in Sherazada’s music that is not present in many of today’s one-dimensional acts.
While much of the album follows a standard scream-sing-scream (or vice versa) formula, repeat listens helps the listener discern an impressive amount of technical skill and balance within the band’s tunes. This is perhaps most evident in album highlight “Last Rites.” Opening with dueling guitar solos, the band manages to combine crushing breakdowns with a clean vocal delivery reminiscent of a Bullets-era Gerard Way (which is quite fitting, since Sherazada are now kings of the scene where My Chemical Romance claims its roots). Unfortunately, despite their impressive strengths, the band also suffers from a bout of the generic. “Echoes In The Hall,” given some cleaner production, would blend in perfectly on a Silverstein record.
Overall, Sherazada have crafted a fairly decent record that shines like a beacon when compared to many of their contemporaries. While not completely original, the band manages to breathe some life into a tired, highly commercialized genre. Perhaps with cleaner production, Sherazada can rise above their local roots and become the next “it” band. After all, it would be nice to see a hard working band ascend to national renown. Personally, I will eagerly await Sherazada’s next release, but will be satisfied with The Hunger Artist’s tunes until it is ready.
Silverstein, A Day To Remember, Alesana, Blessthefall
www.myspace.com/sherazada (http://www.myspace.com/sherazada)
1. Intro
2. Echoes In The Hall
3. Life Within The Sound
4. The Hunger Artist
5. Last Rites
6. Persephone