Back to life with a new sound.
Sometimes an album title can reveal a lot about a band. And in the case of Long Island (New York) melodic hardcore act Crime In Stereo, “Is Dead” was very much a statement in regards to the status of the band following the completion of their tour commitments off the back of 2006's “The Troubled Stateside” (Which was released through Nitro Records). In their time apart, vocalist Kristian Hallbert took vocal lessons, guitarist/backing vocalist took a job as a political consultant and bassist Mike Musilli spent his time teaching at his former high school, while drummer Scotty Giffin continued to jam with Hallbert. But soon enough, the four piece act decided to get back together and write a new album. The combination of time away from the road, each other and Hallbert's growth as a vocalist had a profound mark on Crime In Stereo's new direction, and it's more than evident throughout their third full length effort/Bridge Nine Records debut “Is Dead”.
The lively opener “XXXX (The First 1000 Years Of Solitude)” is an explosive opening punk rock statement that allows Hallbert to pull off some previously unheard falsetto work, while Giffin's energetic percussion work throughout is nothing short of energetic. A little more of Crime In Stereo's traditional and catchy sound comes in the form of “Third Atlantic”, “…But You Are Vast”, “Choker” and “Nixon”, with all four songs given a little more enhancement with the addition of Hallbert's multilayered vocals.
However, it isn't until you get a third of the way into the album that you get to see just how far Crime In Stereo is willing to experiment. “Animal Pharm”, “Small Skeletal” and “Unfortunate Tourists” see the band pushing further into post hardcore sounds with heavy distortion heard primarily on the guitar front, while the absolutely rocking “Vicious Teeth”, the keyboard enhanced “Almost Ghostless/Above The Gathering Oceans” and the subdued “Orbiter” will totally blow apart most preconceptions about Crime In Stereo's stereotypical sound.
At one point, Crime In Stereo was definitely dead. But with the release of their third album, it's clear that the only thing dead is the band's former sound. What's taken its place is something far more interesting and rewarding in the long run.
For more information on Crime In Stereo, check out - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100050481129904.
© Justin Donnelly.
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