Rating: 6.8/10
Tracks: 7, 3, 2, 5
RIYL: My Bloody Valentine, Interpol, Editors, Jesus and Mary Chain, Cure, New Order
When listening to A Place to Bury Strangers self titled album you cant be sure where they started, where theyre going, or when theyve arrived but you will be certain that the ride will be intense and will leave you wide eyed. The sound from your speakers is so loud and fast that a grimace grows on a pacifist face many miles away, yet you cant turn down the volume.
Its amazing how this 3-piece group is called the loudest band in New York, but believe me when I say they can bring the noise. Just when you thought that bands like Interpol, Editors, and Liars completed the post-punk movement this album cranks up the sound and adds some new wave too.
The retro feel of Dont Think Lover is a contrast to To Fix The Gash In Your Head which reminds me of New Order. This album stands on the shoulders of other greats like Jesus and Mary Chain, but they arent great themselves yet. That isnt to take away from other more unique tracks like The Falling Sun where the lead Oliver Ackermanns robot-like monotone voice acts as a corollary to the relentlessly dismal atmosphere that the clash of the guitars creates. This brings me to my next point.
From far away, 50 extra years, and a dearth of tolerance you might hear this album and think, turn that racket off!, but I assure you the clash has an almost mathematical syntax that makes you believe every stroke of the guitar has a purpose to fulfill the next. The chainsaws and industrial machinery effect of this music may turn many people off even with my warning.
With that said, I dont think their intention is to break into mainstream (albeit impossible) but if youre a fan of post-punk, loudrock, or shoegaze, you should hurry and snatch one of the 500 albums in production.