Title: Gender
Artist: Entertainment
Genre: Gothic / Batcave / Rock
Release Date: 13th March 2009
Label: Stickfigure Records
Album Review
For me it’s always like entering an odd or weird dream when pushing the play button to start my journey through ‘Gender’, the very first album of US band Entertainment. A band name couldn’t be more fooling than that because what you’re getting to hear on this record will be more than just simple entertainment so may I invite you now to the first track, the “introduction” called ‘Romance in a Rain’ where playful but slow-hitting drum work meets nightmarish synth work and in parts grotesque twisted guitars. Chills guaranteed! And Trey Ehart’s vocals come across to me like being the echoes of a crippled and tortured soul. Actually brilliant but scary at the same moment! With ‘The Swing Movements’ we’re descending deeper and deeper into the abyss from where disquieting noises rise and evaporate. The drums have become even harder on this one and drive you deeper and deeper into the pitch-black darkness while unsettling synth lines haunt you.
At first it seemed ‘A Seduction Walks’ could be more of a classic track in terms of instrumentation and mood but soon enough the surreal element comes band to remind us which band’s record we’re listening to right now and the weirdness of the guitars joins the speedy drums again. It’s almost impossible to explain that feeling of the song to someone who hasn’t heard the music as yet but maybe to give you a hint: It’s somewhat dazing and fascinating at the same time if that makes any sense. ‘Patroness’ is populated by droning synthetic unease which is multiplied a ten-fold in the chorus where a myriad of instruments seem to come together to play a hellish Post Punk symphony just for you. We’re closing this gloomy ride with the driving ‘Flesh’ I found the mood here not to be as disturbing as in previous acts while still not being normal and I really got addicted to the drumming here.
I needed to gather myself before starting to write my summit to ‘Gender’. From my point of view it’s pushing the envelope of what’s considered dark. It explores the deepest abysms of the soul takes a sample of the domineering mood there and injects it into each of this 8 songs of this album. To sum this up now: ‘Gender’ is Creepy, unsettling, disturbing you name it. In that category it’s a masterpiece and musically it’s beyond any doubt for me as well. If you think you’re up to this or you just love to explore the dark corners of your mind this is just what you need.
Tracklist
01. Romance in a Rain - 5:39
02. The Swing Movements - 3:39
03. A Seduction Walks - 4:14
04. Patroness - 4:51
05. New Joys - 3:58
06. The Nervous Talks - 4:58
07. Confusion of Senses - 4:48
08. Flesh! - 4:28
Line-up
Trey Ehart - Vocals
K Saint Thomas - Bass
Chisolm Thompson - Guitar
Barry Watts - Drums
Website
http://www.entertainme-nt.com/ / http://www.myspace.com/entertainment
Cover Picture
Rating
Music: 8
Sound: 9
Extras: -
Total: 8.5 / 10
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