Crime In Stereo, “Is Dead” (5/5)

After months of label uncertainty and questioning whether or not to move forward with the band, New York's Crime In Stereo is back with its Bridge Nine Records debut, "Is Dead." With this release, Crime In Stereo has completely reinvented their sound. While previous records were heavily influenced by hardcore and punk, this new set of songs sticks to a faster, more melodic sound than what was heard on 2001’s "Explosives and the Will to Use Them" and 2006’s "The Troubled Stateside." Vocalist Kristian Hallbert showcases a huge improvement in the writing of lyrics using very detailed imagery and metaphors. His vocal range has also developed, contrasting screams and yells with soaring falsettos.

The album wastes no time getting started as the band jumps right in with the incredibly fast and catchy, "XXXX (The First 1000 Years Of Solitude)." Hallbert sings, "Do your worst / Our impossible populous / Immeasurable metropolis / The machinery stays as the scenery crumbles away." The CD then moves into "... But You Are Vast," one of the most musically ambitious songs the band offers us, where you really get to see Hallbert's lyrical prowess. In it, he compares the trouble of letting go of a person to struggling with drug addiction. Hallbert sings, "You are no good for me / You are the burnt and blackened spoon / You are the butane / You are the bedroom / You are the improbable excuse for the horrible things I do." The seventh song, "Nixon", is the only song that sounds at all similar to the band’s previous releases. With the wailing guitars, Hallbert yells, "I know you did what you did because you thought we'd never forgive / I Would've done the same thing / Everyone was doing crazy shit back then / Maybe I'm not crazy after all."

Overall, this album is a breath of fresh air in an overcrowded, often generic genre. If you enjoy creativity and originality in music then pick up Crime In Stereo’s "Is Dead" right now.

Favorite Track: “…But You Are Vast”



Reviewed By: Chris