joberooni
07/02/08, 09:25 PM
The Anix - Demolition City
Record Label: Chamberlain
Release Date: June 17, 2008
The Los Angeles-based The Anix’s third studio album, Demolition City, makes one think, upon first listen, they would fit the modern rock radio format nicely, sandwiched between the Three Day Grace's, Nine Inch Nails' and old Thrice's of the world. The familiar formula of heavy, dense guitar layering coupled with the gravelly voice of lead-vocalist Brandon Smith shows is in full prominence on this record, and it’s easy to imagine hearing their songs on the alternative rock radio.
The record opens with “Bullets Without a Gun,” a song with a pretty solid hook, and plenty of Nine Inch Nails-esque sampling. I actually like this song the best on the album, and it stands out from the rest of the tracks.
Another solid cut is “Half the World Away,” as Smith’s vocals during the verse recall the hushed whisperings of Jared Leto (30 Seconds to Mars). Also following that band’s formula, the chorus explodes into an emotionally-strung howler that jumps out at you due to the sheer contrast between brooding, quiet verses and a wailing guitar-heavy chorus.
All the songs on the first half of the record follow a similar pattern: sample-driven (and soft-sung) verses and guitar-drowned (and loudly-sung) choruses, all set to a similar tempo throughout. The second half is not much different, and one begins to wonder if the whole album was really one long song, broken into different movements.
All-in-all, a very solid offering from The Anix. Not instantly memorable, and a bit repetitive, but it certainly isn’t absolute noise. The electronica is well thought-out, not overdone, and the songs are well-crafted as a whole. There is definitely potential for this band.
Nine Inch Nails, Three Days Grace, 30 Seconds to Mars
myspace.com/theanix (http://www.myspace.com/theanix)
Record Label: Chamberlain
Release Date: June 17, 2008
The Los Angeles-based The Anix’s third studio album, Demolition City, makes one think, upon first listen, they would fit the modern rock radio format nicely, sandwiched between the Three Day Grace's, Nine Inch Nails' and old Thrice's of the world. The familiar formula of heavy, dense guitar layering coupled with the gravelly voice of lead-vocalist Brandon Smith shows is in full prominence on this record, and it’s easy to imagine hearing their songs on the alternative rock radio.
The record opens with “Bullets Without a Gun,” a song with a pretty solid hook, and plenty of Nine Inch Nails-esque sampling. I actually like this song the best on the album, and it stands out from the rest of the tracks.
Another solid cut is “Half the World Away,” as Smith’s vocals during the verse recall the hushed whisperings of Jared Leto (30 Seconds to Mars). Also following that band’s formula, the chorus explodes into an emotionally-strung howler that jumps out at you due to the sheer contrast between brooding, quiet verses and a wailing guitar-heavy chorus.
All the songs on the first half of the record follow a similar pattern: sample-driven (and soft-sung) verses and guitar-drowned (and loudly-sung) choruses, all set to a similar tempo throughout. The second half is not much different, and one begins to wonder if the whole album was really one long song, broken into different movements.
All-in-all, a very solid offering from The Anix. Not instantly memorable, and a bit repetitive, but it certainly isn’t absolute noise. The electronica is well thought-out, not overdone, and the songs are well-crafted as a whole. There is definitely potential for this band.
Nine Inch Nails, Three Days Grace, 30 Seconds to Mars
myspace.com/theanix (http://www.myspace.com/theanix)