LIFEND - Innerscars

LIFEND
Innerscars
Cruz Del Sur Music
5/10




Lifend takes the male/female, dual vocal approach on “Innerscars”, a record that features well crafted songs and some of the most interesting compositional approaches in recent memory, but which often suffer from a jumbled sounding production during the album’s heavier sections. The guitar tones lack the thickness and edge that they deserve and vocally, things are at times too loud in the mix.

There are some quite original things happening on tracks like “Blood-Red-Pain” and “Absence” that are worthy of a listen. The title track finds vocalists Alberto and Sara combining for a style that is reminiscent of Orphanage, while “Absence” kicks off with a beautiful acoustic passage that is nicely complimented by the soothing vocalizations of Sara. However, for this type of music, the heavier parts are mixed a bit chaotically. The group throws in some truly jazzy parts here, emphasized by a smooth saxophone sound.

Axe-wielder Andrea is a very skilled player bringing slick arpeggios and frantic riffing into the foray. During the breakdowns he performs some excellent classical styled acoustic playing, using nylon strings in order to give the tunes warmth. If you dropped Alberto’s voice in the mix a bit, these songs would sound much better. It is not that he delivers a poor performance, but his raw style at times overpowers the other players. “In Darkness I Bleed” is a tuneful interlude that focuses on the impressive technique of Andrea as the continuing saxophone theme gives the cut a different dimension. “Shattering Assurance” opens with synth tones that lapse into chaotic blasting. The songs on “Innerscars” are very well written and the band carries an impressive presence performance-wise, but the production is often very challenging throughout the course of the album.

There's a great deal of potential for this band to broaden the horizons of extreme music with their entertaining arrangements and unique ideas. If you can get past the mix, there’s a lot that’s great about this release, especially the immensely original concept of adding the sax sounds.

Here’s looking forward to some great things from this band in the future as Lifend is an ensemble that show a high degree of potential to do some truly great things from a purely artistic, experimental standpoint.


ERIN FOX © 2005 - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED