Fivespeed

Bella (2005)

Meg Reinecker

The pyramids of Eygpt, the Pharos of Alexandria, the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, the Temple of Artemis, the Statues of Zeus, the Mausoleum at Halicarnaussus, the Colossus of Rhodes. Most people don't even know the seven wonders of the world, let alone what makes them so wondrous. Right here, right now, I'd like to propose an addition made to the list of wonders entitled: Equal Vision Signing Radio Rock Bands. The name could probably use some work, but the concept of it being a complete and utter mystery remains true.

If distorted vocals are right up your alley and you can't get enough of Trapt's new record, you're in luck, because Fivespeed's EP Bella will provide you with that and more. The limited edition EP is home to four songs that would be better left to Jared Leto and 30 Seconds to Mars to handle.

Bella's first track "Vegas" offers a chorus that could easily be mistaken for the often-garbled vocals of Chester from Linkin Park. "Are We In," the EP's final track and only demo on the release, offers a semi-memorable sing-along of "I am a surprise because we have to live for lies," but with lyrics like that and others on the release (ex: "Well come on / The tacks are stuck / We'll burn the map to hide the getaway") the potential for the presence of a semi-redeeming quality is quickly diminished.

When it's all said and done, bands like Fivespeed and Seemless create music that may be appealing to some and are even perhaps solid muscians themselves, but their presence on independent labels in the likes Equal Vision is surely questionable.

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