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CD ReviewThe Evolutionaries – “Normalized”By Marcus Pan
At the outset, The Evolutionaries have a Reznor/Manson influence and make-up, and indeed the press kit states this unabashedly. But it's less up front about it, deeper seated and maybe slightly more intelligent in design. You will find the guitars, for example, but they're somewhat more subdued as The Evolutionaries create a more interesting mix. Sometimes this mix is very dirty, almost bordering on amateurish, such as the opening This is Not Real. But this is more of their experimental side it seems as more well-made tracks like All the Dark Things and Kill it From the Inside portray a more accessible form of heavy industrial. Much more polished as well, and very crunchy to the palate. The core bassline of Kill it From the Inside is simplistic, but used to good effect as a key ingredient around which to wrap surrounding keyboard and vocal work. It's a key part of the track and keeps it from splitting apart at the seams. Hollowgrams is probably the most Manson-like track vocally and lyrically. Slave is as well, with its heavier use of guitar riffs rather unlike their previous tracks. Morning Star gets low key and broody, but tends to have pieces of the tune wander away from each other. It doesn't have something like the Kill it From the Inside bassline that fused that earlier track together. Fade seems to have the same problem, though not as severe. The scratching guitar keeps some of the surrounding sounds in check, but occasionally the tinkling synths will get away for a bit and steal from the track's power. The attempt gets even more disconcerting near the end as, when the song grows, it has nothing solid to grow from and instead becomes haphazard. Interesting and not bad at all, and again excellent for a debut release. The Evolutionaries do have to tighten up a bit methinks, but it's a good listen and worth the money. It will be very interesting to see where the Evolutionaries evolve to next as their sound tightens, their work gets more mature and maybe they kick off a bit of the amateurism for a more solid form. Contact Information: |
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Twice I had to receive this CD (postman
squashed it). I'm glad I did though, since this time I got one from the band
themselves and had a better press kit to go with it. Folks devoted to
"assisting in the decay of our modern civilization," The Evolutionaries wait on
the fringe of destructive process for the next rise of power after its
downfall. Their debut, Normalized, is one of the better freshman
releases that have crossed my desk.
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