Band : Maths
Album : Descent
Release Year : 2009
Genre : Screamo / Hardcore
Tracklist :
1.Belief in sorrow
2.Culpa
3.Wilderness
4.Guarded
5.From her journals
6.Boundless
7.Sleep deep
8.To be frozen
9…And let to die
10.This is forever
11.Branches
12.Belief in hope
2.Culpa
3.Wilderness
4.Guarded
5.From her journals
6.Boundless
7.Sleep deep
8.To be frozen
9…And let to die
10.This is forever
11.Branches
12.Belief in hope
Descent would be impossible to encapsulate by simply describing the 12 songs, as the intensity of this experience spans much farther than the confines of its half an hour play time. It leaves you with a feeling in your stomach that can be best described between the words nauseating and staggering. Please excuse the superlatives, but Descent calls for them. From “Belief in Sorrow” all the way to “Belief In Hope,” Descent encompasses a full spectrum. The harrowing swells that begin “Belief in Sorrow” leave a distinct sense of anticipation that doesn’t disappoint when it materializes into piercing screams soon afterward. This gives way to a blatant disregard for tranquility and erupts in an explosion of technical riffs. It’s these and the chaotic percussion that compliment the screams, which are best described as adequate. While the vocals certainly add to the intensity and ferocity, I feel like I’ve heard them before in bands of similar caliber. Nevertheless, it’s hard to critique the sole qualities on Descent, as it’s the cumulative experience that overcomes these tiny flaws in an astonishing manner. Every song seems to have just enough power to stand out on its own from the rest of Descent, whether it’s because of a particular melody (the catchiness of “From Her Journals”), a moment of tranquility (the post-rock diamond in the rough, “... And Left to Die”), or even the all-out eruption of gushing intensity (penultimate track, “Branches”).
Taken as a whole, though, Descent manages to connect its 12 parts beautifully, they intertwine just like the roots on the spectacular cover. The technicality is definitely a strong point for Maths, but there’s something there that separates this from other technical works. Descent encompasses a sheer factor of extremes. It has the ability to be incredibly intense at times while managing to be incredibly tranquil at others and still progress fluidly and naturally entirely throughout. It’s an uncommon quality, and makes for a very distinct listening experience.
Descent is uncompromising and demanding, even in its short time span and relatively short track length. Nevertheless, this is a lasting and valuable experience. Chalk it up to sheer epic-ness perhaps, but this record takes methods and qualities that have been tried, used, and abused, and makes them sound fresh and dynamic. While the qualities that their music is comprised of aren’t inherently unique or specialized, they do a damn good job of owning those qualities, perfecting them Maths have cemented themselves firmly in their place in the screamo stratosphere, and if Descent is any indication, their raw and visceral aesthetic is going to be a force to reckon with in the years to come. Until then, though, Descent should surely be blasting from speakers all the way from their homeland of Britain to over here in the States.
Taken as a whole, though, Descent manages to connect its 12 parts beautifully, they intertwine just like the roots on the spectacular cover. The technicality is definitely a strong point for Maths, but there’s something there that separates this from other technical works. Descent encompasses a sheer factor of extremes. It has the ability to be incredibly intense at times while managing to be incredibly tranquil at others and still progress fluidly and naturally entirely throughout. It’s an uncommon quality, and makes for a very distinct listening experience.
Descent is uncompromising and demanding, even in its short time span and relatively short track length. Nevertheless, this is a lasting and valuable experience. Chalk it up to sheer epic-ness perhaps, but this record takes methods and qualities that have been tried, used, and abused, and makes them sound fresh and dynamic. While the qualities that their music is comprised of aren’t inherently unique or specialized, they do a damn good job of owning those qualities, perfecting them Maths have cemented themselves firmly in their place in the screamo stratosphere, and if Descent is any indication, their raw and visceral aesthetic is going to be a force to reckon with in the years to come. Until then, though, Descent should surely be blasting from speakers all the way from their homeland of Britain to over here in the States.
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