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Epitaph Records -- Millencolin

Casket Architects

Dance on the Death Nerve
2005
Glacial

Casket Architects - Dance on the Death Nerve (Cover Artwork)


Review by: Anchors
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Published on July 21st 2006

Holy moly. I honestly can’t remember the last time so much fury was packed into so small a time constraint. Somehow, some way, Casket Architects are able to pull this off in flawless style. That savvy allows them to pack twelve songs into just 18 minutes, and combine the various directions taken from such influences as Refused and the Misfits into a powder keg that does not stop exploding.

At the helm of this rogue vessel is the manic Mike Shaw, and doing more than just tagging along for the ride are bassist Evan, and drummer Annie Terror. Shaw handles guitar duties as well, in exemplary fashion at that. Be it the furious dissonance of “Observer,” the runaway rhythms of “Deftwich,” or the blistering solos in “Turbine Vaccine,” Shaw is in total command at every twist and turn, ensuring his bandmates are right along there with him to create the best sound possible.

An aggressive punk band at the core, it’s the various other elements that the band is able to implement into their music that makes those 18 minutes so damn special, and so damn unique. They’re not different for the sake of being different, as is the downfall in many of their ilk, but the metal and hardcore tangents that weave their way into some of these songs do nothing if not bolster and intensify an already frenzied musical front.

It comes back to Shaw each and every time. It’s his strong guitar playing and even stronger vocals that give each song an identity all to itself. Compared to some of the other eleven songs on the record, “Solar Surgeon” offers a bit more reserved side of Shaw, but conversely, his guitar playing really picks up in that absence, going from a simple three-chord progression to some ear-shredding solos right before the chorus is able to bouncingly kick in. Just as well as he’s able to cater to that style, in a moment’s notice, he can transition to a biting scream as displayed in “Organ Donor.” No matter the style, it fits fluidly with the music and continues the path the album had been headed on previously without so much as a hitch.

Casket Architects have proven you don’t need a lot of time, you don’t need a lot of unnecessary wankery, and you don’t need a lot of studio polish to make an amazing record. Packing 50 pounds worth of stuff in a 10 pound box has never looked this easy.



People who liked this also liked:
The Holy Mountain - Enemies16 Horsepower - Hoarse [reissue]Mabus - Cheers, To Doomsday GloomAmerican Distress - American DistressCross Examination - The Hung JuryBracket - RequiemNo Thanks - Demo / Live: CBGBs [reissues]A Global Threat - Where the Sun Never SetsPolar Bear Club - The Redder, The BetterIron Age - Constant Struggle



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    Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, July 29, 2006 at 12:35 AM (EDT)
    My Score:

    live it, love it, listen to it. again and again.. what the hell, again

    Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, July 27, 2006 at 3:33 PM (EDT)

    i give an award for worst band name and album title of the year.

    Posted by SilentStorms on 2006-07-25 01:22:31
    My Score:

    Mike Shaw from This Day Forward? If so ... sign me up!!!

    Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, July 22, 2006 at 5:53 AM (EDT)

    Easily one of the best up and coming indy bands. I've seen them many times, and they never dissappoing live. Fuckin rockin band!!

    Posted by johnnydanger on 2006-07-22 02:46:55

    even if you like this record, you can never possibly comprehend them unless youve seen them live. mind blowing

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, July 21, 2006 at 11:11 PM (EDT)

    destined for greatness.!! yummy

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, July 21, 2006 at 9:39 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    amazing.... gives me chills to listen to it.

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, July 21, 2006 at 6:37 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    Are you joking me?!
    Dude Casket Architects kick major fucking ass.
    Keep rockin!!!

    Posted by rmgebhardt on 2006-07-21 09:22:13

    Are you serious? This CD is so disjointed and lacking cohesion that it's a mess to listen to.

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, July 21, 2006 at 12:36 AM (EDT)

    These guys sound like someone told a punkrock band (Note: not a "hardcore", "moshcore", or "Bro-core") that it was ok to have Iron Maiden as an influence. Top notch Guitar, top notch songs, and cream-of -the-crop radical vocals.