Edit The Tide - Reflections In Sound EP
South Wales alt-rock/metal band Edit The Tide, following a couple of earlier single releases, have now released their debut EP Reflections In Sound.
The band – Benjamin James (vocals), Rob Norris (rhythm guitar), Gavin David (lead guitar), Rudy Mason (drums), Dave Snell (bass) – have also ensured said EP is not just sonically impacting but title relevant; the 5 track collection is based around events and experiences that have shaped or even transformed their lives.
In short, "self-reflection in sincerely delivered words and music."
The EP kicks off with 'Ambience,' a full on rocker in the vein of Muse/ Biffy Clyro, with a fairly unrelenting ethic.
The song also features some innovative ideas (including effective use of guitar harmonics), a full bloodied vocal performance from Benjamin James and complex drum parts from Rudy Mason (which are, at times, too dominant in the mix).
Much like the performance, the production is very busy, but clever at the same time.
'Unite And Rebel' is equally complex and even sounds slightly prog-metal. The chorus vocal parts/ harmonies are well delivered, the riffs build to become more intense and the rhythm section punctuate proceedings with no little skill (there’s a real conviction to this band).
'Paradigm' starts with a distorted bass line and a repeating guitar figure not a million miles away from later era Alex Lifeson/Rush. Like the previous number, the riffing increases in intensity as the song progresses while Benjamin James' vocal parts soar above what’s best described as controlled chaos.
The song also includes a very effective breakdown/ middle 8 before returning to the initial riff.
'With Regret' features an opening section that sounds like early Porcupine Tree (no bad thing #1), verse sections adorned with pinch harmonics and a highly effective, short pre-chorus section panning a compressed guitar part. The chorus itself features more excellent vocals and harmonies (which sound a little like Kings X; no bad thing #2).
The number also features a nicely constructed guitar solo from Gavin David and a melodic, "woh-oh-oh" end section that should go down very well live.
Final number 'The Moment' benefits from being less intense than the preceding track, with slight prog-echoes of Peter Gabriel and, again, Porcupine Tree.
The guitars, perhaps inevitably, crash in about a third of the way through the song (see "controlled chaos," above) but there is a true sense of dynamics in this number.
Reflections In Sound is an impressive offering from Edit The Tide but going forward there needs to be a little more variety and use of dynamics (as utilised on 'The Moment') to help separate them from the alt-rock/ alt-metal pack. Also, the mix is so drum orientated that in places it’s detrimental to the overall sound/ songs.
All that said this is, indeed, "sincerely delivered words and music," which bodes well for the future of a very capable band.
Nelson McFarlane
FabricationsHQ
The band – Benjamin James (vocals), Rob Norris (rhythm guitar), Gavin David (lead guitar), Rudy Mason (drums), Dave Snell (bass) – have also ensured said EP is not just sonically impacting but title relevant; the 5 track collection is based around events and experiences that have shaped or even transformed their lives.
In short, "self-reflection in sincerely delivered words and music."
The EP kicks off with 'Ambience,' a full on rocker in the vein of Muse/ Biffy Clyro, with a fairly unrelenting ethic.
The song also features some innovative ideas (including effective use of guitar harmonics), a full bloodied vocal performance from Benjamin James and complex drum parts from Rudy Mason (which are, at times, too dominant in the mix).
Much like the performance, the production is very busy, but clever at the same time.
'Unite And Rebel' is equally complex and even sounds slightly prog-metal. The chorus vocal parts/ harmonies are well delivered, the riffs build to become more intense and the rhythm section punctuate proceedings with no little skill (there’s a real conviction to this band).
'Paradigm' starts with a distorted bass line and a repeating guitar figure not a million miles away from later era Alex Lifeson/Rush. Like the previous number, the riffing increases in intensity as the song progresses while Benjamin James' vocal parts soar above what’s best described as controlled chaos.
The song also includes a very effective breakdown/ middle 8 before returning to the initial riff.
'With Regret' features an opening section that sounds like early Porcupine Tree (no bad thing #1), verse sections adorned with pinch harmonics and a highly effective, short pre-chorus section panning a compressed guitar part. The chorus itself features more excellent vocals and harmonies (which sound a little like Kings X; no bad thing #2).
The number also features a nicely constructed guitar solo from Gavin David and a melodic, "woh-oh-oh" end section that should go down very well live.
Final number 'The Moment' benefits from being less intense than the preceding track, with slight prog-echoes of Peter Gabriel and, again, Porcupine Tree.
The guitars, perhaps inevitably, crash in about a third of the way through the song (see "controlled chaos," above) but there is a true sense of dynamics in this number.
Reflections In Sound is an impressive offering from Edit The Tide but going forward there needs to be a little more variety and use of dynamics (as utilised on 'The Moment') to help separate them from the alt-rock/ alt-metal pack. Also, the mix is so drum orientated that in places it’s detrimental to the overall sound/ songs.
All that said this is, indeed, "sincerely delivered words and music," which bodes well for the future of a very capable band.
Nelson McFarlane
FabricationsHQ