A Static Lullaby

Rattlesnake!

Written by: AP on 08/09/2008 15:40:13

"You know that moment in your life, that single moment that defines exactly who you are?", asks vocalist Joe Brown before concluding his band's latest release with "Everybody's Got a Lil' Fonz n' em", hinting at the one-eighty in A Static Lullaby's sound and attitude with "Rattlesnake!". With a history of line-up changes and three full-lengths received to mixed reviews behind them, that band has stated - and I must join their judgment here - that they're much better off and comfortable as a four-piece. Remember that generic, emo-laden screamo these guys used to dish out? That's nowhere to be heard here. In fact, it might as well be their debut album; such is the extent to which "Rattlesnake!" demolishes the band's infamy.

Tearful melodies and melancholy have been swept under the carpet in favor of a newfound rock n' roll attitude, and although the choruses still tend be of the emotional kind, Joe has grown much more direct in his expression. It says something that when he fires up the aggression he sounds like Greg Puciato at his most pissed off. The focus is on these violent, screamed vocals and groovy, hardcore punk-influenced riffs, as it's during the more emotionally charged moments that the band sounds alienated from its spirit. Not surprisingly, it's the less candid tracks "Morning Would Come" and "Under Water Knife Fight" that are also the weakest, not that they're bad songs per se. "Rattlesnake!" flows with a virtually constant tempo, which tightens the overall package and gives it that groovy character, but leaves little room for Tyler to show off his drumming artifice.

"Rattlesnake" is a new beginning, and A Static Lullaby's finest release to date, and while it may not introduce much novelty to the genre, it's an incredibly cohesive piece of music that won't grow to its fullest potential on the stereo, but will be a party-starter in a live setting. There's no song here that isn't memorable, with sing-along parts scattered throughout the simplistic punk song structures, so don't let the band's not-so-prestigious history blind you: this is an album that deserves to be heard without bias. Even if it does include a rather comical cover of Britney Spears' "Toxic". A certain hit for fans of Dillinger Escape Plan's less chaotic produce á la "Milk Lizard" and well-deserving of a

7

Download: Rattlesnake!, Bear Trap, The Pledge, Everybody's Got a Lil' Fonz n' em
For the fans of: 36 Crazyfists, Alexisonfire, Story of the Year
Listen: Myspace

Release date 09.09.2008
Fearless

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