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The Flaming Tsunamis

Fear Everything (2006)
Kill Normal

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

Published on December 1st 2006

I dare you to find a review of the Flaming Tsunamis' Fear Everything that doesn't contain the word 'ambitious.' With the New Haven, CT act's first full-length, the Flaming Tsunamis have moved from a band whose peers might have included Big D and the Kids Table and the Arrogant Sons of Bitches to one completely departing the genre. Few moments on Fear Everything actually offer straight ska-punk; instead we're usually treated to dark, bravado metalcore strains splashed occasionally with jazzy, upbeat horns á la Rx Bandits in between, or a transition to a more or less melodic, completely different style. Save Ferris-style female vocals even accompany some of these timeouts. Sometimes, the band adds the flair of brass to their heavy base.

Whether or not this makes for great songs is a whole 'nother story.

"The Ritalin Conspiracy" is the first song on the album, and immediately introduces the album with a breakdown. The song later bubbles with a set of sneering vocals quickly fading in and out, a section that seems to resemble Lye by Mistake. However, additional similarities that happen to occur beyond that moment are merely the result of a similar technique employed throughout Fear Everything: a carnival-esque sense of experimentation -- it's so far-fetched and bizarre at points it's practically funny. While not quite as effective as Lye by Mistake, it certainly preempts the potential for predictable points. The title track will even leave you thinking Bane's Aaron Bedard guested on it (in addition to a couple others, vaguely). Gang vocals are liberally sprinkled throughout too, sometimes layered over -- again, like the title track. "World of Chaos" has the riffs from "Funkytown," no shit. Then there's the Locust-borrowing "Bennett Brauer." The nearly seven-minute "Weaug Teaug Peaug (The Powder of Life)," before building into its mountainous peak, sounds more like the Police than anything off the Exit's last few albums. The brass in the closer "Shit Piss Die" should have you whistling the lines for...well, minutes, at least.

There's moments like these all over Fear Everything, and they certainly make for an interesting collection. But like so many bands with the same level of ambition, that's the inherent problem: These moments rarely, if ever, coalesce to form one great song. In addition, their actual metalcore style seems to take less from their claimed influences (Converge, Botch) and more from a newer era more intent on sweet mosh than creative brutality. Of course, in this context it could all be tongue in cheek; it's hard to really say.

Lyrically, there's a nice consistency of political outrage (though the refrain of "BOMB THE WHITE HOUSE" in "The First Rule" seems a little attention starved on paper), and it seems the band still have an odd fascination with zombies ("If You Really Love Me.").

Things are relatively enjoyable here, no doubt, but it's just tough to say that the band knows exactly what they're doing yet. Tightening things up would do absolute wonders, but it's hard to deny that there's an insane foundation in place to build upon.

STREAM
Bird-Watching and Vice Versa
The Great Red Cross Robbery
If You Really Love Me.
The First Rule

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literamaniac (August 12, 2010)

Oh it's not perfect, but I love this album so. Never quite noticed how the little disco riff in "World of Chaos" resembled "Funkytown" til just now.

Anonymous (December 4, 2006)

could this reviewer possibly drop more references?

he didnt even touch on the best stuff on the album. birdwatching and vice versa is a solid composition. corpse disposal for dummies accomplishes all the things that this reviewer claims they don't.

if you don't want to push your boundaries at all, stop listening to the flaming tsunamis and start listening to mustard plug.

tft hasn't reached their destination quite yet, but if you listen to their progression there is reason to believe big shit is coming.

thebreakoff (December 4, 2006)

This band sucks so hard. Seen them live and wasn't impressed at all. Public Access does a much better job at this ska/hardcore hybrid shit.

Morgan (December 3, 2006)

One of my favorite bands considering they're from CT and everytime I see them it's my new best show.

And Dead Girlfriends is a joke. They're into horrormovies and zombie flicks so that was the inspersation for that.

some people will complain about anything.

Citizen_Crack (December 3, 2006)

this is an awesome album. Not really metalcore.

Anonymous (December 2, 2006)

feeding5000......... youre not serious?

Anonymous (December 2, 2006)

try contacting the band hobo

hobojew (December 2, 2006)

These guys stole my friends guitar cable. Can someone get that back for him?

stevejonestherealbones (December 2, 2006)

if you got that they think violence against women is okay, then you are an imbecile . fuck irony or any other cliche you think the are going for, if you think they are pro-women beating after seeing them, then you are either slow in the head or just waiting for something to cry about

- jones the bones

- stevejones8770@yahoo.com

feeeding5000 (December 1, 2006)

Hooray...A homophobe defends sexism.

stevejonestherealbones (December 1, 2006)

Ahh, where to begin? I saw them at the skatopia festival in Providence, RI, this past summer. After the bands "Daly's Gone Wrong" and "The Specs", I asked them, casually, if they played emo. The trombone player nodded "no", I and said that was good. Then, they open up their set with nu-hardcore. With a horn part.It reminded me of Terror and Hatebreed, exactly the kind of stuff I hate. Then, they had a song that went, "Dead girlfriends can't break up with you", which everyone in the club sang along to. I was mortified. Yeah, even if it was a joke song, or ironic, or the message of the lyrics was totally different, I didn't get any of that out of it. All I got was, "holy shit, they think violence against women is ok!" This isn't me not bothering to put a score up. This is a zero.

that dead girlfriends song is great

- jones the bones

- stevejones8770@yahoo.com

quit being a homo

feeeding5000 (December 1, 2006)

Anonymous (December 1, 2006)

These guys are amazing live, but I could never get into their recorded stuff.

Rastid (December 1, 2006)

good review.

if you really loved me is an amazing song. the rest.... is interesting.

stevejonestherealbones (December 1, 2006)

ska for avenged sevenfold fans. theyre ok guys though. still, a pass on this album.

no way, i mean, sure they scream, but stylistically, i think that description goes to Monty are I

- jones the bones

- stevejones8770@yahoo.com

Garrett_Fucking_Brannagan (December 1, 2006)

Great Band
i havent heard this album yet becasue i can't get it here if i dont mail order it

i like the songs on Myspace though, and i like everything else they've done....so ill get it sooner or later

score is for the band

letmeslityourwristsforyou (December 1, 2006)

I thought this cd was great. I saw them a few weeks ago in Ann Arbor and they were amazing live and all around nice guys. If you get a chance check them out live.

hitlerbadzakgood (December 1, 2006)

ska for avenged sevenfold fans. theyre ok guys though. still, a pass on this album.

stevejonestherealbones (December 1, 2006)

i like it

this album is worth 10-12 bucks if only for the "if you really love me song" probably in the top 10 songs released this year

- jones the bones

- stevejones8770@yahoo.com

Anonymous (December 1, 2006)

I've got the reel big fish/goldfinger 7" and some other stuff from green day, blind society, etc. on ebay. Check it out. Thanks! http://myworld.ebay.com/punkass92

GlassPipeMurder (December 1, 2006)

anyone else find it ironic that there's an Rx on the cover??

Anonymous (December 1, 2006)

gauges

Anonymous (December 1, 2006)

look at those fucking gagues jesus.

Anonymous (December 1, 2006)

I'm fairly certain there's no one female in this band...I could be wrong though.