AloneInTheDark
11/17/08, 07:26 AM
A Static Lullaby - Rattlesnake!
Record Label: Fearless Records
Release Date: September 9, 2008
Let’s flash back to October 2006 for a minute. A Static Lullaby was once again a buzzword, fans were ready to rock out, and the hype train was circling around the band for the first time in a long time. It must have felt good, since the limelight was long since stolen from them after they dropped the ill-received Faso Latido. Not long after, the band suffered everything from label drops to a near disbandment. But this time, things were different. Their album dropped with modest reviews and what seemed like a return to form from the band, but this was also a different time, when their once definitive style had been recycled and reused by every band coming out of California and Long Island, and the album’s glare slowly fizzled.
Rattlesnake!, the band’s latest release, never quite built up any hype, which seems almost unfortunate. As I carried myself through this eleven-track gunfight, I could feel the tension, the emotion, and the sweat that was poured into making this album. Rattlesnake! is the album that A Static Lullaby needed to release. If this doesn’t restore faith in previous fans and if it doesn’t garner any new ones, there’s definitely something wrong.
The album kicks off with the title track, a raunchy and raw fist-pumper that could easily kick off the next Every Time I Die release. The guitars shred, the vocals pierce, and the band sounds on the top of their game. Welcome to the best thing A Static Lullaby has produced since 2002 -- fans can finally exhale.
As the album blazes forward, you can tell they tried hard not to misstep on anything. The lyrics are dark and simple, avoiding any kind of cliché. While the lyrics seem a little pale at times, it’s obvious the band was more worried about crafting decent songs than using witty wordplay. It works to. Every song is anthemic and aggressive, and they never put the guitars down and through the whole album. A Static Lullaby keeps kicking ass.
While the album as a whole sounds much better and much less dependent on influences, the greatest improvement are the vocals, and how well the sing-scream formula is handled. The screaming is timed perfectly, and the clean vocals sound crisp and are carried beautifully. This was my biggest complaint on the band's self-titled album, they just seemed so forced. The connection between Joe Brown and Dan Arnold is sincere, and they play off of each other almost too perfectly. The vocals carried the album with a great sense of urgency, but never seemed too alarming, which is something that’s hard to handle when the backing music is so furious. Finishing off the album is a more than decent cover of Britney Spears' "Toxic." I was a bit thrown off when I reached this track, but the song translates well.
It’s obvious the band has found their niche, and I hope that they carry on through. Even though they’ve revamped their sound, fans should find hope in this album, as it holds the charm that was created with the release of …And Don’t Forget To Breathe. It’s obvious that this band has used their six years of experience for the best. While there are still some obvious flaws, especially with the drumming, which never quite reach the expected breakneck speed, Rattlesnake! is an impressive piece of art, something that I wouldn’t have expected two years ago.
I sincerely hope that this album builds up steam in its lifetime, because it’s truly impressive. If this was 2006, this band would be at the top of the game, and while I’m sure many of their old fans will grab on to it, I’m keeping my fingers crossed for the rest of the world. This album is a true display of hard work, even with its flaws.
Every Time I Die; Maylene and the Sons of Disaster; Espresso & Amphetamines
myspace.com/astaticlullaby (http://www.myspace.com/astaticlullaby)
Record Label: Fearless Records
Release Date: September 9, 2008
Let’s flash back to October 2006 for a minute. A Static Lullaby was once again a buzzword, fans were ready to rock out, and the hype train was circling around the band for the first time in a long time. It must have felt good, since the limelight was long since stolen from them after they dropped the ill-received Faso Latido. Not long after, the band suffered everything from label drops to a near disbandment. But this time, things were different. Their album dropped with modest reviews and what seemed like a return to form from the band, but this was also a different time, when their once definitive style had been recycled and reused by every band coming out of California and Long Island, and the album’s glare slowly fizzled.
Rattlesnake!, the band’s latest release, never quite built up any hype, which seems almost unfortunate. As I carried myself through this eleven-track gunfight, I could feel the tension, the emotion, and the sweat that was poured into making this album. Rattlesnake! is the album that A Static Lullaby needed to release. If this doesn’t restore faith in previous fans and if it doesn’t garner any new ones, there’s definitely something wrong.
The album kicks off with the title track, a raunchy and raw fist-pumper that could easily kick off the next Every Time I Die release. The guitars shred, the vocals pierce, and the band sounds on the top of their game. Welcome to the best thing A Static Lullaby has produced since 2002 -- fans can finally exhale.
As the album blazes forward, you can tell they tried hard not to misstep on anything. The lyrics are dark and simple, avoiding any kind of cliché. While the lyrics seem a little pale at times, it’s obvious the band was more worried about crafting decent songs than using witty wordplay. It works to. Every song is anthemic and aggressive, and they never put the guitars down and through the whole album. A Static Lullaby keeps kicking ass.
While the album as a whole sounds much better and much less dependent on influences, the greatest improvement are the vocals, and how well the sing-scream formula is handled. The screaming is timed perfectly, and the clean vocals sound crisp and are carried beautifully. This was my biggest complaint on the band's self-titled album, they just seemed so forced. The connection between Joe Brown and Dan Arnold is sincere, and they play off of each other almost too perfectly. The vocals carried the album with a great sense of urgency, but never seemed too alarming, which is something that’s hard to handle when the backing music is so furious. Finishing off the album is a more than decent cover of Britney Spears' "Toxic." I was a bit thrown off when I reached this track, but the song translates well.
It’s obvious the band has found their niche, and I hope that they carry on through. Even though they’ve revamped their sound, fans should find hope in this album, as it holds the charm that was created with the release of …And Don’t Forget To Breathe. It’s obvious that this band has used their six years of experience for the best. While there are still some obvious flaws, especially with the drumming, which never quite reach the expected breakneck speed, Rattlesnake! is an impressive piece of art, something that I wouldn’t have expected two years ago.
I sincerely hope that this album builds up steam in its lifetime, because it’s truly impressive. If this was 2006, this band would be at the top of the game, and while I’m sure many of their old fans will grab on to it, I’m keeping my fingers crossed for the rest of the world. This album is a true display of hard work, even with its flaws.
Every Time I Die; Maylene and the Sons of Disaster; Espresso & Amphetamines
myspace.com/astaticlullaby (http://www.myspace.com/astaticlullaby)