There Were Wires
Somnambulists
6.3
Here’s a strange EP, initially coming across as one of the many acts trying to seek Headbangers Ball fame as an angst ridden, choppy metalcore band, TWW, actually end up sharing more with bands like Isis, Burst and such, in that their metalcore delivery is somewhat drawn out and expansive. The result is that Somnambulists is at times a deep evocative listen, but at times is confusing as it tries to satisfy the scattershot dynamic of their DEP loving peers.
When settling into longer, heaving, sludge ridden moments as seen on album excellent opener, “New Doom” and closer “Gasp”, TWW come across as a pretty solid act, as those two songs have character aided by the lengthy prose of the song, but when trying to squeeze that same sound into the 2 or 3 minute bursts of “Get Cryptic”, instrumentals “Walking”, and “Waking”, it seems underdeveloped. “Get Cryptic”, just begs to be stretched further to expand on its slightly Southern drawl, rather than the sudden shift to stuttering hardcore and its 3 minute premature conclusion.
“Waking” and “Walking” come across as riff sharing instrumental filler that could have been developed into a fuller undulating mammoth song, much like superb EP closer “Gasp”. This 10 minute behemoth builds and builds with a brooding tribal beat and distorted menace before its inevitable explosion. It treads much the same water as Isis’s vast soundscapes, with lurching, gargantuan riffs imbuing both size and weight. Its pacing for some reason created images of a giant whale peacefully gliding through dark waters; a gargantuan shadow displacing tons of matter as it gracefully breaks the surface, right before being harpooned and thrashing in blubber spilling throes of agony.
On the strength of “New Doom” and “Gasp” alone, TWW have some potential if they can quell the desire to mimic the army of chaotic DEP clones, and focus on the impressive expansive elements that separate them from the scensters. However, a fuller production would aid their cause as some of the weight is lost during the heavier moments due to a slightly thin guitar tone.
Lots of potential here but a little direction is needed before they can play with the big boys.
