Antimaniax

Antimaniax: I'm Without Sleep In This Desert Of ConcreteI'm Without Sleep In This Desert Of Concrete (2004)
Household Name Records

Reviewer Rating: 4

Contributed by: FortyMinutesWestFortyMinutesWest
(others by this writer | submit your own)
Published on June 29th 2004This record has nothing to do with Bill Clinton playing the sax, I swear. Austria's Antimaniax are a truly unique band. They're unique for several reasons, one of which being I couldn't pigeonhole them within the first minute of this record. This band had me from the moment I pressed play, the .

This record has nothing to do with Bill Clinton playing the sax, I swear. Austria's Antimaniax are a truly unique band. They're unique for several reasons, one of which being I couldn't pigeonhole them within the first minute of this record.

This band had me from the moment I pressed play, the Simpsons clip at the beginning immediately won my heart. However, the music seemed like typical mosh inducing metalcore. Just as I was about to run down the list of bands that sound like this, the heavy guitars gave way to a speedy bassline, and the gruff vocals I was expecting never came. Instead of being greeted by shouts, I found myself listening to something that sounded vaguely like Assorted Jellybeans. This is only the first of several tricks that this band has up its sleave. I've listened to a ton of bands, but very few have caused me to say "what the fuck" in a genuinely surpirsed way. I've said it quite a few times when a band has been exceptionally awful, but that's a story for another time. Indeed, Antimaniax aren't content with finding one sound and sticking with it. Instead, they take multiple genres and compact them all into their sound, and surprisingly, the result is actually coherent. They never come off as ska band trying to play metal or skate punk band playing hardcore, they play each style with a great deal of proficiency. So while this band is all over the place, it sounds perfectly normal. The biggest surprise came with the song "G8," a blazing track that shows off the band's aggressive side. This song shows the band switching back and forth between shrieked and growled vocals, and it actually bares a slight resemblance to Crucial Unit. Antimaniax leave no stone unturned,and yet it doesn't even sound like they're breaking a sweat. The changes go off without a hitch and the songs are never disrupted. Some bands can't make a record flow while only playing one specific style, Antimaniax pull it off while bouncing all over the musical spectrum.

I see no reason why this record and band won't have a wide appeal. They play so many different sounds, that even if you're not a fan of one set style, they have something else to offer you. I've heard people hailing Folly for their ability to blend ska with heavier music, but I think this band does it a whole lot better, and I find their songs to be more diverse. This is a release that really does have something for everyone, it's not every often that I dig something that uses liberal amounts of ska, but this band is an exception.

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Fine Print: The following comments are owned by whoever posted them. We are not respon sible for them in any way. Seriously.

Anonymous (May 24, 2006)

The Antimaniax are one of the greatest Punk Rock, HC, Ska Bands ever! They've got power live on stage, it's really unbelivable!!!
I thing NO concert in the last few years wasn't sold out!

You can download the songs from the maniax homepage, but support em and buy the record too!

peace love and understanding
maze, graz, austria

Anonymous (November 25, 2005)

What are you on about? http://www.casino-los-angeles.com/doliyoli/casino-directory-2005. html

Anonymous (July 4, 2004)

one cool thing about their gigs is the guitar-case-move! :P

"Yeah, everyone should go to their website, as they offer both of their albums for free on there."
yes, you COULD do so.. but read their comments on that. if you like their music, you should at least buy the album(s) after d/l them to support this great band.

Anonymous (July 4, 2004)

good punkrock!

Anonymous (July 2, 2004)

Christmas Episode. Bart is coerced into shoplifting BONESTORM, a send off of Mortal Kombat.

-BSD

axx (July 2, 2004)

Antimaniax are so good live!

and this album is great, but I preferred the previous one.. "As Long As People Think"..

truly a great band!

xmidipunkbastardx (July 2, 2004)

this band is great and from austria.
can it get better?

Anonymous (July 1, 2004)

Anyone know what the simpsons clip is?

Bart: Were you guys shoplifting ?
Jimbo: 4 finger discount dude
Nelson: Shoplifting is a victimless crime, like punching someone in the dark

I just d/l the whole album. I might order it this summer... unless they plan to do a US/Canada tour.

Anonymous (July 1, 2004)

its householdnamerecords.co.uk not househoUldnamerecords, how fucking thick are you to spell it wrong? household, as in entire house. hould is not a word

Anonymous (July 1, 2004)

Anyone know what the simpsons clip is?

Anonymous (June 30, 2004)

Someone recommended this band to me and I gotta say I was very impressed...I guess you could call it ska-core with punk and metal influences, but even if it's hard to describe their sound there is no doubt that they are a great band

Joe

Anonymous (June 30, 2004)

I saw these guys live in Austria and it was fucking awful. Just noise and posing.

Anonymous (June 30, 2004)

Pinky and the Brain was awesome. I'm still waiting for a DVD of that show. I think I'll be waiting for a long while......

funkisdead (June 29, 2004)

these guys are amazing live, their albums get better and better respect and love from edward (antimaniax rock).

Anonymous (June 29, 2004)

pinky and the brain was better

cm (June 29, 2004)

ok, ive been rocking this album for a while, and i can admit to not owning the cd's because they are pro-mp3, so yeah.... anyway, review was dead on, i like this band a lot...

OKSoda (June 29, 2004)

Yeah, everyone should go to their website, as they offer both of their albums for free on there. These guys are awesome. They remind me of Leftover Crack minus the filler. They are a bit more focused. If you are a fan of political music, or harder ska, this a band you should be checking out. The review pretty much sums it up perfectly. Good job.

Anonymous (June 29, 2004)

You can check out all their music at http://www.antimaniax.com/ by the way.

notfeelingcreative (June 29, 2004)

Hello nurse!