The Pitch: San Antonio, Texas experimental hardcore band Illustrations self-releases their eclectic sophomore album Acts of God. FFO Zao, Wrvth, The Drowned God
What I Like: "War Have Mercy" is the track that initially sold me on this album. This excellent lead single, with its delightful sax interlude, feels like Wrvth collided with the aggressive hardcore riffs of Zao. Illustrations have a unique mix of melody, groove, and innate strangeness that no doubt comes from their varied influences. Vocalist Matt King names everything from At the Gates to Cocteau Twins as playing a part in the songwriting. Other tracks like "A Vacant Stare" abandon metal and hardcore altogether in favor of electronic alternative somewhere in the ballpark of Dillinger Escape Plan and Nine Inch Nails' more morose and subdued moments. And that's not even stretching the album to its furthest reaches of ambience and experimentation.
What I Don't Like: The album feels too long and a bit disorganized. I hear a cohesive theme, but the flow is off. The first two tracks, for instance, don't start the album out on the strongest foot (imo) and come across as very similar in certain parts. I literally checked to make sure I wasn't replaying a track when the chorus popped up. For me this record doesn't truly begin until the first sax solo and transition to the fiery passion of "Iron Rain."
The Verdict: An imperfect but highly creative and promising album from this group of curious, young musicians. It's always great to see hardcore bands stepping away from the status quo. With a little more care in the songwriting and album mixing process, I see these guys having an album of the year in a few years. Check out Acts of God this Friday.
Flight's Fav's: War Have Mercy, The Killing Field, Harrowed End