Bart: We've caught a strange creature. Well, actually it came to us in free will. 81db proudly presents their debut album, born in 2009 already. Eclecticism is their main inspirational source, and they use it well. Heavy riffing is explored from almost-punk to Watchtower-technicality (listen to the opening of 'Nice Trip'!). The song 'Mirror' has vocals that remind of Nickelback, but without the slick stuff surrounding it. If we compare the song to 'Voices', their single, we just can't… This song reminds of System Of A Down, including crazy vocals, sudden breaks and speed guitars. Actually 81db can be best compared to them, with the main difference being that 81db throws in a lot more eclecticism.
Yes yes, I hear you think, all very intriguing this experimenting and all, but do I also get my share of emotional contact? Well, even though most songs are more of an adrenaline-kick than emotionally involving, 81db manage to actually also write very moving songs. Take for instance 'Argonaut's Dance', which is a very atmospheric song containing Greek folk elements: it really grabs you. 'Revelations' then again shows another ballad-side of 81db, with the singer suddenly sounding a lot like James Hetfield, and getting away with it because the song and vocals are great!
The production is great and the playing is very tight, with all bandmembers being involved in the dynamics. I'm very curious how this band will sound on their next record, and as you can read in the interview in this same issue, they're already working on it and playing some new material live. For now, I keep this record close to my body in case of "I need inspiring crazy music right now!"-emergencies. And maybe you should do so too (you never know when it hits you!).
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