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Title: Acedia
Artist: History of Guns
Genre: Industrial / Punk / Rock / Ambient
Release Date: 7th July 2008
Label: Line Out Records



Album Review

HISTORY OF GUNS is a British cross-genre group, who formed in 1996. In 1999, they released their first EP ‘Little Miss Suicide’, followed by two further EPs, namely ‘Disconnect’ and ‘Mirrorpond’, before they debuted with ‘Flashes of Light’ in 2004, which is described as “A dense slab of atmospheric dark electronica devoid of any guitars”. Their second album ‘Apophenia’ was named after the medical condition of seeing patterns in seemingly random data and every track on the album was written and performed in a different genre. With ‘Acedia’’, those genre anarchists now return…

‘Born, Brutalised, Bought the Buried’ opens with filtered applause samples, before distorted and electronically mutilated samples fill the next seconds. The mood gets threatening with the arrival of synthesized strings and piano on the scenery. Honestly, after that introduction, the shift to a rock track came utterly surprising and unexpected for me. Del spits out the vocals into the mic full of contempt it seems. ‘It’s Easy (To Go Blind)’ carries on with the rocking them from before, but expands it with more complicated drum parts, partly taking on Drum’n’Bass traits, complemented with much more insistent, sometimes howling guitar riffs, charged with darkness.

These are also elemental parts of the following track ‘But I’ll Be Waiting’ which, after a short string sequence, starts right away with the full instrumental set at mid-pace and later comes up with very captivating piano parts and bass lines, where the riffs fully retreat. Del’s vocals are being filtered, so it sounds almost like he’s singing through a sink pipe or something, whilst his actual voice is sounding somewhat hopeless in its core. ‘Exhaust Fumes’ bases on sort of a tribal drumbeat with riffs suggesting danger, seemingly to induce a feeling of panic and lyrics like “Your Father has killed your Child” are not quite cheery. ‘Empty Eyes’, also released on a single together with ‘But I’ll Be Waiting’ earlier this year comes with an entirely electronic beat, later turning into a real drum section around which a repetitive guitar riff meanders.

The core of all the music on ‘Acedia’ is darkness. It’s oozing from every poor so to speak. And no matter which track you’re listening to, you wouldn’t dream of using the term ‘happy’ for it, neither musically nor lyrically. ‘Acedia’ is a trip into abysms, hard to digest and I don’t think it will appeal to a wider audience. Maybe that was the point of it all. But it’s as diverse as it could get and rivets your attention for longer than just one spin.


Tracklist

01. Born, Brutalised, Bought then Buried – 5:35
02. It's Easy (To Go Blind) – 3:35
03. But I'll Be Waiting – 4:42
04. Exhaust Fumes – 4:46
05. What Have They Done To Us? – 4:02
06. Never Forgive You – 2:58
07. No Eternal Reward – 3:11
08. Empty Eyes – 3:44
09. Drag On – 5:41
10. Killing Myself Until I Die – 4:40


Line-up

Del Alien - Vocals
Max Rael - Guitars, Synths, Programming
Gary 'The Reverend' Hughes - Drums, Guitars, Bass-guitar
Stagger Lee - Bass guitar


Website

http://www.historyofguns.com/ / http://www.myspace.com/historyofguns


Cover Picture




Rating

Music: 8
Sound: 8
Extras: -
Total: 8 / 10

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