The Boy Will Drown
Fetish
6.4
I wasn’t really sure what to expect from the band’s moniker but the Pig Destroyer-ish artwork was the thing that drew me to Fetish. As it turns out, The Boy Will Drown add one part deathcore to two parts tech-grind, resulting in a fast and chaotic style complete with a bagful of Dillinger Escape Plan-esque guitar runs. On initial listens the frantic chopping and changing on this album is somewhat distasteful, with songs flying by in a flurry of speed and noise leaving little impression. Give it time though and Fetish eventually emerges as a competent death/grind/hardcore hybrid with more than a few glimmers of promise.
Unlike some of their peers The Boy Will Drown aren’t only interested in atonality when it comes to riffs and their utilization of melody on this album is at times quite bizarre. Take for example the last two minutes of “Dead Girls” which, following the caustic blast of the song’s first half suddenly shifts into a melodic, shoegazer ending. Were it not for the screamed vocals and layers of distortion it wouldn’t be metal at all, and the effect is jarring to say the least. Other numbers do a better job of mixing chaotic savagery and subtle melody, namely “Akura-Class” and “Suis La Luna” (far and away the most memorable and fully-realized song here). If they continue to build on the promise of these more dynamic, textured moments these guys are likely to start producing songs that match their impressive playing abilities.
Against the current crop of death/tech/grind purveyors The Boy Will Drown compare favorably, and all in all Fetish is a good first effort that shows enough potential to make follow-up releases a compelling proposition. There are plenty of above-average moments throughout this album, though it’s rare that The Boy Will Drown bring them together with the cohesion and finesse that their idols do. Great production and excellent musicianship aside, Fetish won’t be pulling me away from Phantom Limb, DEP or Ion Dissonance just yet.
