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By JEFF MAKI
Fear Before the March of Flames' third release, The Always Open Mouth (Equal Vision), is a highly ambitious recording for the Denver, Colo.-based band. The name of the band would make most think metalcore, but that couldn't be further from the truth. Many bands attempt to blend genres of music, but fail miserably. Fear Before the March of Flames combines alternative metal, industrial, punk rock and a heavy dose of art rock into one cohesive unit, making The Always Open Mouth one of the most interesting recordings in some time.
An eerie piano introduction gives way to the guitar fuzz of "Drowning the Old Hag." Lead vocalist David Marion's alternative style singing is not what I'm used to hearing. It could best be compared to Chino Moreno of the Deftones but with a stronger punk influence. At times, there are hints of a Suicidal Tendencies influence, as well as Nine Inch Nails and even At the Drive In. It's almost impossible to pinpoint the band’s sound. Guitarist Adam Fisher’s raspy screams back the clean vocals. "Mouth" sounds like a song destined to be heard for a long time. It’s catchy alt-rock hooks and instantly memorable chorus are simply brilliant. Something new to the band is the addition of keyboards, which are used heavily here. Combined with a variety of strange electronic sounds, they add depth to each song. The first single, "Taking Cassandra to the End of the World Party" is oddly arranged—like most songs here—with no semblance of a chorus appearing until the end of the song. This is not the strongest track but should serve its purpose as a gateway to the album for new fans.
The middle of the album is unlike anything I’ve heard. From the strange acoustic riff of "High Horse" to the funky electronic beat of "Dog Sized Bird" to the haunting melodies and piano of "...As A Result of Signals Being Crossed," the album has great depth and unexpected direction. The last part of the album grows even stranger, with effects, odd tempo changes and further musical experimentation on songs such as "My (Fucking) Deer Hunter" and one of the more metal songs here, "Lycanthropy."
It's a good bet that most people hearing this album will have heard nothing quite like it before. The band's cohesiveness is surprising since there are so many genres at work. There are other bands that have tried to create a similar sound. Often, the quirkiness and genre blending is annoying and seems forced. That doesn’t appear to be case for Fear Before the March of Flames, but only repeated listens will have the final say. Over time, the novelty of The Always Open Mouth may wear off. For now, this is a must have for open-minded music fans.
www.marchofflames.com
www.equalvision.com
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