In a day where metal and hardcore has an endless litany of sub–genres tagged at it left and right, Chicago's Angel Eyes effortlessly and boldly defy genre classification and simple explanation. "Midwestern," their newest creation, is an album of moral indignation, a call to arms in a declining economy. It's relatable to any of us that have struggled and fought and clawed over these past few years only to end up having to struggle harder in the end, with no end of worrying in sight. Apocalyptic in scope, Midwestern is a four part movement of brutal realism that plays over in your head long after listening. The sounds resonate, the lyrics and vocals disturb, and the intention is honest and personal.
There's still a comfort and hope in the unsettling atmosphere that the album conjures up, however, because it is comforting to know that others feel this way and we are not alone in the desolate struggle ahead. If you combine the cathartic nature of mid–90's hardcore acts such as His Hero Is Gone and In/Humanity, with the contemporary sludge of Neurosis and the atmospheric elements of Godspeed You! Black Emperor, toss in an unhealthy, complete and utter obsession with Ennio Morricone's soundtracks to the Sergio Leone spaghetti westerns of the 60's & 70's (in fact, the bands' name,"Angel Eyes" is actually taken from the name of Lee Van Cleef's totally badass character in "The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly"), then you're starting to get an idea of what Midwestern sounds like. Since playing their first show in 2003, the band has released a demo titled "01" (2004, self released), a full length entitled "Something To Do With Death" (2005, Underground Communique), an ep entitled "...And For The Roof, A Sky Full of Stars" (2007, Underground Communique), and a split 12" with German spazz/noise crazies A Fine Boat, This Coffin (2009, Concubine Records).
Midwestern marks the band's second full length album and a culmination of experiences both musically and personally that couldn't help but explode in the violent manner captured within these songs. Midwestern was recorded by Greg Norman at Electrical Audio (Pelican, Russian Circles, Sweet Cobra) and mastered by Bob Weston at Chicago Mastering Service (Nirvana, The Jesus Lizard, Earth, Om, Jawbox), with artwork painted by Marnie Galloway and design and layout by N. Shumaker/Northern Lights Industries (The Cure, Caspian, Gifts From Enola).
There's still a comfort and hope in the unsettling atmosphere that the album conjures up, however, because it is comforting to know that others feel this way and we are not alone in the desolate struggle ahead. If you combine the cathartic nature of mid–90's hardcore acts such as His Hero Is Gone and In/Humanity, with the contemporary sludge of Neurosis and the atmospheric elements of Godspeed You! Black Emperor, toss in an unhealthy, complete and utter obsession with Ennio Morricone's soundtracks to the Sergio Leone spaghetti westerns of the 60's & 70's (in fact, the bands' name,"Angel Eyes" is actually taken from the name of Lee Van Cleef's totally badass character in "The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly"), then you're starting to get an idea of what Midwestern sounds like. Since playing their first show in 2003, the band has released a demo titled "01" (2004, self released), a full length entitled "Something To Do With Death" (2005, Underground Communique), an ep entitled "...And For The Roof, A Sky Full of Stars" (2007, Underground Communique), and a split 12" with German spazz/noise crazies A Fine Boat, This Coffin (2009, Concubine Records).
Midwestern marks the band's second full length album and a culmination of experiences both musically and personally that couldn't help but explode in the violent manner captured within these songs. Midwestern was recorded by Greg Norman at Electrical Audio (Pelican, Russian Circles, Sweet Cobra) and mastered by Bob Weston at Chicago Mastering Service (Nirvana, The Jesus Lizard, Earth, Om, Jawbox), with artwork painted by Marnie Galloway and design and layout by N. Shumaker/Northern Lights Industries (The Cure, Caspian, Gifts From Enola).
