Melbourne 90’s flavoured rocks Cicadastone are again with their album “Future Echoes”. Their first album for XMusic and the way does it stack as much as the primary two?
My introduction to the band was in 2018 first noticed the band on a multi band invoice, I can’t recall precisely the place that was but when reminiscence serves me accurately it was at Max Watts when it was often called the HiFi Bar. I bought a duplicate of the band’s debut album, 2016’s “Probability Collide” at that present as I used to be impressed with the band’s sound and the efficiency they delivered that evening. These guys had been doing one thing completely different, their sound had captivated me and introduced me again to the early to mid-nineties the place my consideration had been caught by bands like Alice In Chains and Soundgarden, or as I referred to as it grunge with substance. Songs with nice riffs, musicality with hooks whereas nonetheless holding a darkish veil in entrance of them.
In all honesty if this band existed throughout the top of Alice In Chains they’d have been family names internationally.
Through the years I got here to know the band and adopted what they had been doing, in the end turning into pals with them and most significantly continued as a fan.
2021’s “Chilly Chamber” the band’s sophomore launch was one other stage and the time between albums had been 5 years. The band had grown of their writing and manufacturing capability but once more.
As everyone knows 2021 wasn’t the kindest of instances for anybody particularly a band with new music. Reside exhibits had been just about non-existent which made selling a file in its pure habitat, stay nothing greater than a dream. The succession of nice singles and clips saved engagement excessive from that album. The band performed a handful of exhibits between the album’s launch and 2023 however until you had been conscious of the album it acquired missed by way of poor help and promotion from the bands earlier label. Cicadastone have all the time been in command of what they did and the way they offered themselves to the world. Their music clips had been all the time a spotlight and a real testomony to the imaginative and prescient and drive of the band. The Robins brothers Could and Mark being the steering forces in creativity.
Like their successors “Future Echoes” was recorded, produced and mastered by frontman Mat Robins at his Coloursound Studio. Their signature sound continues to be there however one thing has developed this time. There’s something recent, particular and further about this group of songs. Maybe it’s the unimaginable manufacturing on this file. Maybe it has to do with a brand new vitality behind the drum equipment in Ethan Robins. Maybe it’s the gelling of a sound and magnificence that was nonetheless rising.
‘Cellophane’ opens the album and easily grabs you by the throat with its killer riff and hooky refrain simply sticks. For me that is the proper begin to “Future Echoes” it has shadow and light-weight together with a ripping solo and actually does make a press release from the phrase go. That is the tune that if I needed to counsel somebody hearken to in introduce them to the band, that is the observe.
‘In The Crossfire’ the primary single from the album continues the theme and has stunning separation within the recording of each guitar components. The whole lot is instead right here.
‘Damaged Memento’ is a darker riff and utilises that closely layered and doubled vocal that has such a strong and concise Alice In Chains nod to it. It’s one other shining second on the file.
‘Skeleton Key’ has a barely droning really feel to it and continues slightly deeper into the darkness and grit. It’s the best way it’s delivered that actually makes this tune partaking. The selection of guitar tones is genius in the best way they complement one another so effectively in distinction.
‘Burn Your Title’ takes the albums first actual twist with its lush introductory soundscape and floating vocals it strikes right into a mid-tempo observe that has dynamics that merely kick in all the fitting locations. The efficiency on this observe must be one in every of this album’s most interesting moments. The haunting double vocal strains on the three-minute mark of this observe is an absolute deal with.
‘Future Echoes’ and ‘Shadows In An Empty Room’ each have a heat, magnificence and ease to them. Slowing issues all the way down to take an nearly acoustic method to this couple of songs exhibits a lot depth and flexibility in the best way they sound. Whereas the class of the acoustic feels in each of those songs are merely charming it’s the contrasts inside these two songs that offers them a lot really feel from hovering guitar solos to soiled bass undertones it’s all there. Preparations are clear and provide you with moments the place you count on it to go a method solely to search out it takes the exact opposite route. This pair of songs are a pleasant interlude at first kicks again into gear with the albums third single ‘Final In Line’.
The uncooked guitar tone of the intro to ‘Final In Line’ has some severe tooth to it. It has a slight Queensryche like construction to it that in some ways wouldn’t really feel misplaced with their traditional albums whereas nonetheless standing robust in that Alice In Chains realm. It’s a killer mixture of two of Seattle’s most interesting bands in a single observe.
‘Take The Fall’ is presumably probably the most straight ahead observe on the album for me. Nice tune and efficiency however simply didn’t have me hitting repeat on the finish to take all of it in once more.
‘Concern Inside Our Grasp’ is a gritty stomper of a tune. Razor sharp guitars, enormous drums and a groove that pulls you in.
‘This Hurricane’ the vocal harmonies initially of this tune are simply so lush. I bear in mind the goosebumps that it left me with the primary time I heard it accomplished. It nonetheless provides me chills. The tune itself is sort of a tidal pull because it gently pulls you in and holds you because it swirls and sways. Presumably my favorite observe on the album.
‘Whisper To My Lonely Self’ closes the album with a chugging riff that sees one other bunch of fantastic performances from all members. The enjoying on this observe is simply good.
Having been privileged in listening to this album in an earlier unfinished state it was evident that Cicadastone had an ace up their sleeve with this album. Completed and prepared for launch they maintain all of the aces in plain sight. There’s something about this album that makes it such a strong listening expertise. For me it’s a file that I’ve appreciated probably the most whereas within the automotive. It’s a driving rock file that merely immerses you. It’s additionally a deal with by way of headphones because the element in every observe is unimaginable.
Lyrically every observe is effectively written and tells an exacting story, its deep, its partaking and in some ways it’s a collection of effectively advised tales. Vocally the performances sit so effectively to inform the tales.
Bassist Tommy Sundown has such an excellent assortment of tones all through this album. Every half driving strong foundations with a power to be reckoned with as he holds a lot drive, energy and heat in these songs.
In all honesty the performances on this file are all stellar and positioned so completely. The layers and depth on this file are simply excellent.
Drummer Ethan Robins simply shines in his interpretation and enjoying on the gathering of songs.
Guitar clever there’s a clear separation between Mat and Mark’s components that play so effectively collectively. Effortlessly they swoop out and in of one another mixing superbly but additionally capable of create a lightweight and shade, nearly a darkness at instances that actually makes every tune a journey of discovery.
For me that is probably the most complete Cicadastone album, stuffed with magical moments and the manufacturing is simply unimaginable. Whereas the album hit arduous within the surroundings of the automotive it’s best loved loud and thru headphones. That is nobody play pony it deserves a lot time and a focus, I urge you to test it out.
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