Similarly categorized bands like Three Days Grace address problems like this, if only slightly, but
albeit effectively. And then there is Alter
Bridge, who, while are in the category, never seemed to have a problem with
writing music more superior to what they last wrote.
It should be pointed out, and I’ve mentioned this in past articles,
but I am not the biggest fan of categorizing the crap out of bands. Nowadays a
band can’t just be a “rock” band, or a “metal” band. Unfortunately, sometimes
to get my point across, I have to do this. Especially with bands like the one
of the topic of this article, Peur (French for "Fear,")
in order to give readers who have never listened to the band and idea of what
they sound like.
That being said, the previously mentioned Peur are doing things right on their EP
We Can Build Astronauts. In fact, I’m
not convinced I should categorize them in a genre like “post-grunge alternative
metal,” because the band has such an original sound, but I don’t feel I have
the authority to create a brand new sub-genre just for them.
The EP’s first track, Lights,
starts things off on the right note. Some electronic sounding effects leading
in to blasting guitars that calm down into a heavy bass sound driven rhythm of Ryan Greenhalgh glued together with a
more than noticeable drum beat by drummer Sam
Tempest. Joe Lomax’s vocals make
an immediate impact on the song with his resilient, yet serious sounding voice
that, while it is a voice to be taken seriously, it doesn’t sound like he’s
trying to scare listeners. This sound continues in the slightly slower paced Anarchy.
It is the track Pursued
By Bears that changes things up with its progressive hard hitting beat and
simple, yet effectively harmonized vocals. There is almost a punk/indie
influence to the song, but not enough to take away its alternative rock
credibility. I also enjoy the simplicity behind Joe’s played guitar solo. Empires brings back the hard-thumping
nature of the EP’s first two tracks, but adds a bit of a Muse influence in its production. The sound of keyboards and guitar
effects make this a very standout track on the EP.
The last track of the EP, Grey Blood takes the EP for a complete turn that I love. The song
starts off with a blues-rock riff that I would have never expected the band to
be capable of, furthering my, and surely anyone else’s opinion of the bands
capabilities. Even after the song picks up about a minute in, it doesn’t lose
the blues kick that it started out with.
I enjoy EPs like this; EPs by a band that is just starting
out and has a lot of ideas of how they want to write music. The end result
always involves a series of songs that sound nothing like each other. This
proves that had the EP been a full album, it would have been a rare full album
of all songs that sound different from one another, making for a full album
that never loses its listeners attention. As mentioned, I may categorize the
band as an “alternative metal” band, but that is simply because they are so
different from other bands that such a genre is the closest relatable genre I
can think of. This is one of the most effective EPs I have heard in a long time
that shows true potential by the band that released it.
ALBUM HIGHLIGHT
“Anarchy” – With an EP as diverse as
this, picking a highlight is difficult. My highlights for albums are typically
the track that I find sums up the album, one that has many of the features
heard on the album all in one, but this album doesn’t really have one. I will
admit to picking Anarchy for the
sole purpose that there is a music video for it because, frankly, any of the
five songs on the EP could be a highlight.
FINAL RATING
8.5 (Out of 10)
Track List:
1.
|
"Lights"
|
4:04
|
2.
|
"Anarchy"
|
3:44
|
3.
|
"Pursued By Bears"
|
3:07
|
4.
|
"Empires"
|
3:19
|
5.
|
"Grey Blood"
|
5:27
|
Big up da Peur massif, izzit!
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