Solace Lost
Transmissions Of A Dying World
6.2
Transmissions of a Dying World is an album that can be approached from three perspectives, and I am going to review it from each one. The chances are quite high that almost everyone who reads this review will be able to place themselves into one of the following categories:
Category 1 - "NEXT!" - With each metalcore album you hear, you get more disgusted with the genre. You may admit to having liked metalcore at some brief moment in your life, but now you're not interested in even the best that that metalcore has to offer. Nevertheless, because of the ease at which one can preview a song on Myspace, you decide to listen to "Theory of Deceit". About 16 seconds in, you exit out of the page, as your disdain for the genre grows exponentially. The generic vocals and low guitar tuning echo in your brain as you desperately search for something else to play. Hey, you have to at least give Solace Lost credit for being able to produce a catchy enough loop for you to remember.
Category 2 - "The good ole' days..." - You're trying to be optimistic, as you work your way through the songs. You used to like some bands who sounded like this before the style became so generic. You bob your head to the catchy grooves and briefly envision yourself back in your crazier days accidentally knocking some people out on the dance floor. Although you'll probably never listen to the songs more than a couple of times (if that), you enjoy them and realize it's only the band's debut. The recording quality is quite good, each band member doesn't attempt to play songs they can't handle, and hell...it's probably better than anything you've ever recorded, right? Although you'll probably never purchase the album, you'll remember who the band is and support them if they roll through your town, as you should. Everyone has to start somewhere, and the importance of bands like Solace Lost shouldn't be overlooked, especially in their own area.
Category 3 - "These guys make Korn sound like Alanis Morissette!" - If you've just recently discovered that there is more to heavy music than commercial imagery, then Transmissions of a Dying World could be a very important release for you. The guitar riffs are decent, the soloing is exceptional, the melodies are creative and the breakdowns are heavy as shit! What could be better?! Although the album isn't exactly original, you realize that it could still be very enjoyable (or dangerous...if you have the type of friends that I do) at a party or live concert. Hopefully, you'll expand your horizons further by branching out and listening to other areas of extreme music. Hell, you can start with Solace Lost's obnoxiously long list of influences on their Myspace page.
It's obvious that a lot of time and energy went into the production of Transmissions... and for that, Solace Lost deserves a fair amount of credit; even if you're one who falls into the first category. Some debuts may be more creative than others, but all music has to be influenced by something, doesn't it? So don't fault the band for playing something you feel like you've already heard 1,000 times before. It's a necessary step that almost every musician must take in order to begin formulating more original music.
