Capstan - Separate - Album Review

Capstan - Separate - Fearless Records

Track List:

1. pretext

2. shades of us

3. take my breath away noose

4. alone (feat. shane told)

5. blurred around the edges (feat. saxl rose)

6. tongue-biter

7. abandon

8. shattered glass

9. sway (feat. charlene joan)

10. decline

When I look at the scene's landscape, especially in the category of post-hardcore bands, Capstan is still a relative mystery. And they're a mystery in a couple of ways. First, they've been making progressive post-hardcore for a while now, but they're still able to mix up their sound and keep you on your toes. Second, even though they're on a famous scene label, perhaps the most popular, at this time, they're still seemingly separate from the pack.

Perhaps, that's partly where the title of their sophomore full-length album title 'Separate' comes from. If so, it shows a band capable of deeper insight and self-awareness than many in a similar position. However, with 'Separate,' Capstan is in a challenging situation. Do they continue where EPs and their last full length (‘Restless Heart, Keep Running’) left off, championing melodic post-hardcore? Or do they add in some other popular genres and follow some of the current trends? The lure of that balance can be treacherous and has led many bands to tip the scale in sometimes unfavorable directions.

After listening to 'Separate,' though, Capstan has skillfully navigated those perils and come out the other side with another excellent addition to their discography. It has everything you want from the band, progressive and technical instrumentation, passionate screams, melodic singing, and great storytelling. But, they also stepped out of their comfort zone with a few tracks on 'Separate.' 'take my breath away noose' may be their most giant leap so far. The track sounds momentarily out of place, with a jazzy hook and pop feel. But instead of going full trend, the technical instrumentation is still there. It shows that the band has a ton of range available (and probably even more still to come).

But that isn't all. The choices to "separate" themselves from the pack can be heard in tracks like 'alone,' where the heaviness in the track is balanced throughout with a very catchy chorus. Still, when a clear opportunity for a "standard" breakdown appears, Capstan changes their sound up and falls into a beat instead. It'll be interesting to see how that track is played live, for sure. The band features a few artists as well to mix things up. First, Shane from Silverstein makes an appearance in the before-mentioned track. Later, Saxl Rose and Charlene Joan add their unique touch to their songs, differentiating and diversifying styles. All bringing something more to 'Separate.'

The point of music isn't to only find something "new" and latch on because it's...well, "new". But, when a band adds more dimensions to their sound and does it well, THAT'S when it's worth paying attention to. Capstan has continued to evolve as that band. They've always had a niche sound, but one that can consistently be expanded upon. The "heavy" is there. The melody is there. Every member is highly talented in their place in the band. Each has many moments to shine in 'Separate.' Capstan is a band that consistently impresses, and 'Separate' is another culmination of that talent that people should be paying attention to.

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Wither Away - I Won't Find Hope In You - Album Review

Wither Away - I Won’t Find Hope In You - Independent

Track List:

1. April (Spring Is Coming)

2. Kagune (Ruin Me)

3. Shadow Form

4. I Won’t Find Hope In You (Feat. Ricky Armellino of HAWK) - Single

5. The Town Where Only I Am Missing

6. Persona (Feat. Hotel Books)

7. Dark Room

8. Cherish Your Friends - Single

9. Stigmatized

10. Your Name.

After four years, Reading PA's Wither Away has returned with an ambitious follow-up to their debut EP. This time, they demand to be heard, and I recommend you listen. 

Right away, an interesting note when it comes to the visual representation of Wither Away, in most cases since the start of the band, a pagoda has been a strong structure utilized in their first singles to their debut EP 'The Words We Live By, The Actions We Don't Take.' But now, on the cover of 'I Won't Find Hope In You,' the pagoda is set ablaze. Is it now a symbol of the desecration of inner peace, the destruction of what we believe is valuable in this world, or destroying that part of you that was holding you back? 

It's challenging to put Wither Away into a musical category because they utilize multiple genres very well. At times, there are flashes of an emo-rock band, melodic post-hardcore, or even alternative rock. But what does it all really mean? Really, it means they're comfortable making whatever music they want, and it shows in IWFHIY. From the instrumentation moving from melodic to aggressive to the clean (singing) vocals to out of nowhere uncleans (screams), Wither Away keeps you on your toes and, more importantly, keeps your attention. JJ's vocals are strong while showing weakness in the storyline while weaving multiple vocal disciplines into a cohesive story. The instrumentation is dynamic, drives when needed, and creates an atmosphere integral to making that comprehension through the album.

Tracks range from discussions, almost conversations asking questions of depression, religion, and does belonging even exist? The fourth wall is even broken in the track 'I Won't Find Hope In You' as you're told, "I wish that I was only writing lyrics when I said that I don't like having fun. Depressed but now I see there's beauty in this melody". I recommend listening to the album while reading the lyrics to capture any nuances that may have been missed.

In the track' Stigmatized,' JJ repeats lines towards the end of the track with the solo backing of guitar-only in a melodic fashion. More instruments join in, and JJ's vocals become more pleading and emotional. He screams, "You're dead to me," his last line and almost every other band would kick everything into high gear to either restart the chorus or get one more semi-breakdown squeezed in, but Wither Away doesn't, and instead, play out more melodically and calm. That's confidence in one's musical direction. 

That's one of the keys to IWFHIY, confidence. In every facet, Wither Away has made an engrossing album built like the pagoda with confidence. Confidence in their musical ability to draw you in, keep you on your toes, create an atmosphere, and tell a compelling story.

Not only did Ricky Armellino (HAWK, Ice Nine Kills) mix and produce the album (a fantastic job of keeping tone and ambiance), but he also added his featuring abilities, as did Hotel Books. Both features add an extra layer to the dynamics of IWFHIY and fit in nicely. The only things that ever felt out of place were small autotuned pop flourishes in the final track 'Your Name.'. It's nothing that would ruin the track; it just feels out of place with the tone of the rest of the album.

I have been a fan of Wither Away since their debut EP, but they added another dimension to their abilities with 'I Won't Find Hope In You.' The album's flow is precise, layered, and the balance of singing and screaming is unrivaled. You'll never feel like you're worn out or following the same template set by others. The band has genuinely made something personal of their own and shared it with an audience.

Wither Away has done anything but, with their new full-length release, 'I Won't Find Hope In You.' Make sure you listen and support them. 

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A Scent Like Wolves - Mystic Auras - Album Review

A Scent Like Wolves - Mystic Auras - We Are Triumphant

Track List:

1. Pink Dawn (intro)

2. Eastern Lights

3. Telephone

4. Bloom (feat. JT Cavey of Erra)

5. Poison

6. Midnight Eyes (interlude)

7. Deja Vu (feat. Mattéo Gelsomino of Novelists + Sal3m)

8. Death Effect (feat. Brian Wille of Currents)

9. Dissolve (feat. Booka Nile of Make Them Suffer)

10. Aquamarine

Just shy of three years, A Scent Like Wolves return with their sophomore album 'Mystic Auras,' but does it run with the pack or lead the hunt?

Hailing from Reading, a small town in PA, A Scent Like Wolves (ASLW) have continually refined and molded their sound since their debut full length, 'And The Story Goes' in 2013. 'Mystic Auras' continues that tradition with mixtures of post-hardcore, metalcore, and progressive metalcore elements. Not only that, they're one of the few remaining pure dual vocalist bands in the scene. That means 'Mystic Auras' showcases intertwining clean and unclean (singing and screaming) vocal performances from brothers Al and Nick. From soaring highs to bellowing screams, there's plenty of diversity throughout 'Mystic Auras.'

ASLW has always been good at setting the mood in their music, and this is no different, but it's accomplished differently than in their previous material. Each track sounds different from the last while still feeling like ASLW. The musical arrangements vary, not allowing the listener to become bored, while catchy choruses and driving instrumentation keep constant interest in what's coming next. 

A unique trait of 'Mystic Auras' is the willingness to diversify and emphasize features from the scene. Utilizing features is often a missed opportunity in post-hardcore and metalcore. Unlike pop, hip-hop, and other genres, features are used sparingly, but that's not the case with ASLW. Out of the ten tracks, four have features. That's 40%! Easy math even I can do! 'Mystic Auras' boasts features from some heavy hitters from ERRA, Novelists, Currents, and Make Them Suffer! That's an impressive lineup, and each makes an impact and adds an extra layer to their track. 'Dissolve,' which features Booka from Make Them Suffer, is worth an additional note as it's the first almost ballad-style music ASLW has attempted. It certainly pays off (minus a little shoe-horning at the beginning (😜).

My only minute gripe with 'Mystic Auras' is that out of ten tracks, two of them are an intro and interlude (that's 20%). Really, it's only because ASLW always leaves you wanting more. More dual-vocals, more driving instruments, more heavy-melody. It's cliche, but you want even more of the story.

One of the best parts of ASLW when listening to 'Mystic Auras' is the feeling that they're making the music they want to make. Their music feels like the identity they want, and sometimes, that can be rare in a scene of trend followers. Even though they're very good at mixing genres, you don't feel like it's overwhelming or forced. It's a natural progression of the journey they've been on for almost ten years. In that way, they'll always be leading their own pack with 'Mystic Auras.'

Make sure to support A Scent Like Wolves by pre-ordering ‘Mystic Auras’ and following/listening at these links:

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Tigerwine - Nothing Is For You - Review

Tigerwine - Nothing Is For You - Tooth & Nail Records

1. Anteroom

2. Technicolor Yawn

3. Scarecrow

4. Black Water

5. Salt

6. Wigwam

7. Word Hoard

8. Hiss At The Sun

9. Nothing Is For You

10. Complete

It’s been slightly more than three years since Tigerwine released their debut full-length album ‘Die With Your Tongue Out’ (Blood & Ink Records) and now in 2020, they’ve returned on a new label, but with that familiar Tigerwine sound.

But, not familiar as in, “the same album” again. Definitely not. Tigerwine has embarked on something new, yet familiar. It might sound cliche, but I think you’ll understand when you listen through. There’s no official intro to Tigerwine’s sophomore full-length release ‘Nothing Is For You’, but like many of the songs on the album, there’s a built-in intro to the first track Anteroom. It lures you in with reverberation and repeating guitar picking, which leads to...old-school feedback and distortion! It’s time for some rock! 

Hayden’s voice hasn’t skipped a beat since DWYTO. Haunting at times, delicate at others, and harsh when screaming certain notes. You can hear the passion intensify as songs build (see ‘Scarecrow’ for example). Maybe it’s just me, but the production and instruments feel like I’m in a small bar or club seeing a local rock band play their hearts out. Even though the album can be relatively atmospheric or possibly noise rock-y at times, there’s a rawness the band captures that’s often lost in today’s scene. 

Another topic of note, unlike many bands in the scene, Tigerwine take their time creating an atmosphere for their songs. Nothing seems rushed. Each track is over 3 minutes with many in the 5-minute range, the longest at 6:35. No interludes, or stand-alone intro and outro tracks. You get your breath in the lead-up and then it’s off to the races. In the track ‘Wigwam’, a little more than halfway through, the vocals float away, leaving the mood to settle into drums, guitar, and feedback. The vocals return after the desired effect has taken hold. That tone plays throughout the entirety of ‘Nothing Is For You’ and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Tigerwine’s sophomore offering doesn’t disappoint in the slightest. While keeping elements of DWYTO, They have only added to what they’re capable of in ‘Nothing Is For You’. Less screaming doesn’t mean the element of heaviness has left, it’s just now presented in a different style. This is an album to lose yourself in, to imitate in your garage, or to take in a long and rainy drive with it as your soundtrack. Hopefully, this is only the start for Tigerwine. 

You can pre-order ‘Nothing Is For You’ following the links below. ‘Nothing Is For You’ comes out on Friday, May 1st, 2020 through Tooth & Nail Records.

Tigerwine - Facebook

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