SYMPATHY FOR NOTHING – A Taste Of Light
Terrasound Records
This album is a real conundrum on a number of levels. Austrian band Sympathy For Nothing have come up with a platter that aims to fuse metalcore with melodic rock. Top marks for ambition and willingness to push boundaries, but in the final analysis they haven’t quite pulled it off.
On one hand, the deep and busy riffing of tracks like ‘In2Pieces’ and ‘One Step Too Far’ lay solid, often intricate metal-influenced grooves. On the other, the mostly high register and melodic, verging on poppy vocals of Richard Thallinger float over the top, seemingly disconnected from the complexity of the music. Then, perplexingly there are a few phrases of gutteral metal growl thrown around the album as if Phil Anselmo had stumbled into the mix down. That particular collision of vocal styles is a messy car crash and does the album no favours.
There are some decently crafted tunes here, often driven by the band’s outstanding drummer Martin Wagner who serves up mouthwatering rhythms and fills on ‘One Step Too Far’ and ‘A Taste of Light’. Again, the marriage of hard and fast guitar work with slow and brooding vocal hooks is one that will keep Relate in business. This is a dysfunctional relationship that needs all the counselling it can get.
‘Over and Done’ stands out as a track where the balance feels easy, smooth and powerful. By some margin, the best cut here. ‘As I Am’ benefits from a more dynamic vocal range. But all too often, the vibrancy and aspirations of the music (‘Claustrophobia’ and ‘World Goes On’ have some thrilling riffs) is undone by one-paced, slow-paced and mournful vocal delivery.
A work in progress. With a bit more therapy there’s potential here for something interesting.
***
Dave Atkinson
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