Title: Something to Happen
Artist: The Cascades
Genre: Goth Rock
Release Date: 27th March 2009
Label: Avasonic
Album Review
Berlin-based band THE CASCADES emerged in the early 90s and is considered one of the top contemporary Gothic Rock acts. Ever since their inception they’ve put out 4 full length albums- and a new addition to the catalogue is about to follow with ‘Something to Happen’.
A spark of energy springs over from the first droning riffs at the beginning of the opener ‘All the Best’ which soon are to merge with melodic lines and driving yet still light drumming and the varying intensities and moods of vocalist Ben Richter’s chant. Electronic effects are applied on the fuzzed-out sounding opening riff of ‘Secret Shadow’ building to a rather traditional Hard Rock song with sullen and aggressive vocals saying ‘We are your torturers without remorse”. In the latter half it’s giving us the full grace of a melodic solo. With a duration of over 7 minutes ‘Another Dream already holds the title ‘Longest Song on the Album’ but for me it’s also the one with the darkest and forlorn atmospheres. Gloomy melodies are being created with an organ whose sounds resemble the ones occasionally heard in THE CURE’s songs but also the unbridled power of the guitar has its fair share to the sound and ever breaks through the darkened sonic sculptures the organ crafts. ‘Lights in a different World’ gets back to a more radio-compatible length regarding its duration and I find it’s not as dark as the aforementioned.
Clocking into the song at the beginning we hear that the drumming as been put very much to the fore and is a little more frisky and vivid. During the verses the guitars are more phased into the background, occasionally fading out for some nice chopped and melodic riffs. The album ends with the title track that again comes up with pretty varied drumming and a strong emphasis on very melodic riffs. While listening through this album over and over it occurred to me that it’s much less Gothic than it is Rock. That might be nothing new for you long-time fans of the band but for me it was. It has the dark overtones Gothic music always has but it’s not putting it on display obtrusively and that’s what I really like about this style and if that could be something for you too just risk an ear.
Tracklist
01. All the best - 3:21
02. Secret Shadow - 4:24
03. Falling World - 3:28
04. Last Days - 3:50
05. Another Dream - 7:17
06. Lights in a different World - 3:35
07. Your Fate - 4:03
08. Everyday - 4:25
09. Your Heart will fall - 5:37
10. Undertow - 4:06
11. Running - 4:55
12. Something to Happen - 3:25
Line-up
Ben Richter - Vocals
Maxe Raith – Guitars, Keys
Andre Hager - Bass
Andi Gmeinwieser – Drums
Website
http://www.thecascades.de/ / http://www.myspace.com/thecascadesfanpage
Cover Picture
Rating
Music: 7
Sound: 7
Extras: -
Total: 7 / 10
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