Artist: Slag in Cullet
Title: Splinter
Genre: Alternative Rock / Rock
Release Date: 25th February 2011
Label: Reelmusic
Album Review
SLAG IN CULLET has previously released three EPs (‘Like Taking Cover Behind’ 2008, ‘Rubber Heart’ 2009 and ‘Blame’ 2010) and a studio album ‘Time To Explode’ in 2009, now ‘Splinter’ is about to hit the listeners with just under a half hour of blasting, raw energy, a perfect “soundtrack” for rage, angst, hurt and pain connected to what mostly feels as the aftermath of losing the significant other - or reaching one’s end of the tether. I’ll go to the downside of the album first, as the music flirts with Screamo the vocal gets drowned under the guitars sometimes too much, but personally I’d have liked to hear Andy Röösli more, it’d have underlined the emotive charge of the album with more immediate effect as their lyrics matter and Röösli’s voice is quite good - with that more exposed it’d have made ‘Splinter’ more of a visceral experience than it already is. It’s great in ‘Bruise’ but could have been missing in most of the other songs.
However, the kick in the gut quality is its biggest strength, so to the highlights - the album titled song was one of those for me with its pleading-turn-to-angry quality, the memorable hook; the keyboard at the end especially as it lent an extra layer to the atmosphere. ‘Believe’ - a slower and emotive song where Röösli’s voice was allowed to stand out more. With a more detailed listen you can hear the nuances some more as at first they can escape you as most songs do flow into a mass of sound that appears homogenous - in this case I’d not let it be off-putting as the repeated listens do bear rewards. It’s a good album. I think that they will be able to achieve even more in future, so in that sense SLAG IN CULLET is one to watch out for.
Tracklist
01. That Way – 4.25
02. Tasteless Shade – 5.01
03. If I Had A Heart – 3.57
04. These Times – 3.48
05. Splinter – 4.48
06. Nice To Meet You – 4.47
07. The Masochist – 4.11
08. Run Away – 4.41
09. Believe – 5.34
10. Bruise – 4.31
11. Things That Seem So Plain – 7.35
Line-up
Andy Röösli - vocals, guitar
Rafaela Dieu - bass
David Burger - drums
Websites
http://www.slagincullet.com/ / http://www.myspace.com/slagincullet
Cover Picture
Rating
Music: 7.5
Sound: 7.5
Total: 7.5 / 10
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