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On The Might Of Princes

Sirens (2003)
Revelation Records

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Contributed by: Scott
(others by this writer | submit your own)

Published on September 30th 2003

How has On The Might Of Princes stayed off my radar until now? This is the big question that I keep posing to myself after each subsequent listen of Sirens, OTMOP's third LP and first on Revelation Records. The music this New York quartet brings to the table is wholly fresh and original, but still in touch with it's roots. And I'm digging it, big time.

The band's sound is an obvious post-hardcore one, but with more twists and turns than your typical group. The band seems to have two personalities musically, each representing one of their singers. One singer spends most of his songs screaming and/or muttering ala Conor Oberst, and there's a big Gainesville sound influence on these tracks - maybe not as spastic as Twelve Hour Turn or I Hate Myself, but not as melodic as Hot Water Music. OTMOP treads that middle ground with pride, and it definitely keeps my ears open.

The other singer takes a more melodic route, especially in songs like "The Swell And The Breaking" and "They Have Teeth," both of which have a much more midwestern mid-nineties post-hardcore sound, ala that of early Braid [with vocals somwhere in between Ted and Tim of Cursive]. If one were to make a comparison to posthumous labelmates Texas Is The Reason, one wouldn't be too far off track, although TITR's songs seemed more focused on straightforward arrangements, whereas OTMOP's songs seem to shoot off into left field at random points, going into dancy drumbreaks and gutteral breakdowns galore.

The production on the record is just lo-fi enough, with a real raw quality making most of the songs shine. I can really get a feel for this band's live show off this recording, and I believe that's a good sign. The lyrics are as obtuse as you'd expect a band like this to be, but not to the point of pretentiousness. I find myself turning to the lyric sheet numerous times to check my lyric memorization, as this stuff does get stuck in your head.

All in all, Revelation has a solid winner on their hands, better than anything else they've put out this year. Recommended.

REAL AUDIO
Here Come The Sirens

MP3s
Here Come The Sirens
You Whistle, I'll Shoot
Here Come The Sirens [demo]
Go Fuck Yrself [demo]

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paris_in_flames (November 2, 2007)

I just busted this out the other day. Its good stuff.

Anonymous (October 29, 2005)

Eu sunt Marius frate ! Din radauti !! Bv ai facut treaba buna ;)

Anonymous (September 24, 2004)

funny that the guy below me should say that they're gonna break up...

because they did. and that really sucks.

Anonymous (July 22, 2004)

This is going to be my favourite CD!!!!
THEY ROCK!!!

Anonymous (June 2, 2004)

i love this band and i love this album, great songs on here all though not as consistent as the "where you are and where you want to be" album.

Anonymous (December 6, 2003)

Shai still owns. TWBIT is still the best CD Revelation released this year.

Minor Threat

501 (November 26, 2003)

seems that way, good band.

Anonymous (November 1, 2003)

Great album...just like their previous stuff. I like the music when your just not knowing what to expect. Shitty thing is, they're on revelation...so they'll probably break up soon...just like shai hulud and elliott and drowningman and will haven and in my eyes....cursed??? you know i've got a fucking point - Coldjuly.

Anonymous (October 5, 2003)

"on the might of princes is the best band on long island. period."

NO. MDC is...

-Janelle
(I'll have an interview with the one and only Dave Dictor up somewhere soon...)

Anonymous (October 2, 2003)

its my guess that theres only one guy who doesnt like this band who keeps posting a whole bunch of crap. hes not to bright.

this band rock. here comes the sirens is an awesome song.

-boba fett

Anonymous (October 2, 2003)

anyone who enjoys this band should be shot in the face

sickofmodernart (October 2, 2003)

it's fucking brilliant. start to finish, and then including the hidden track. yeah. a great cd.

Anonymous (October 2, 2003)

Twelve Hour Turn > jesus

Anonymous (October 1, 2003)

hey, homophobia is cool.

Anonymous (October 1, 2003)

these faggots should go back to hell where they belong.

sickofmodernart (October 1, 2003)

this cd is fucking great.

Anonymous (October 1, 2003)

Open up wide...this band is brilliant...

-jv-

dignin (October 1, 2003)

this score is for the two ingenius posters below me, so creative...