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Released on May 1, 2015 via Independent
You know when you listen to a decent song through a phone speaker? How, no matter how well it is produced, it sounds all tinny, with every instrument and voice washing together into an over-trebled gurgle? That’s how this album sounds.
Which is a damn shame, because Leave the Living can clearly write and play angry, politically-charged, thrash-tinged groove metal. The first track, ‘Let Go’ is a decent start; it is held together by a Gojira-style solo-cum-riff. But, as far as listenability goes, it is as good as it gets.
‘Pacifist’ is next and it begins with a furiously fast blast beat but the production values have taken such a massive dive from the opener that everything is mushed up together. And the bass and drums are barely audible. On the first listen, I thought my headphones had gone on the blink. And the sound doesn’t get any better as the album goes on. It changes – sometimes the voice is way too loud, other times it’s the bass – but it’s all difficult to listen to.
To tell you that ‘Manifesto’ contains the potential for a super chunky breakdown in the middle, if you could only hear it, is a little redundant. As is talking of the frustration over having the excellent guitar work in ‘Undone’ ruined by the fact it sounds like someone is phoning the song through to you. From the band’s native Canada. Using 1940s technology.
And it is pointless to mention that there is a bone-breaking time signature shift in ‘Poison Pen’ because, yet again, you can barely hear it. It’s like trying to have music at your party by giving your guests drinking glasses to put up against the neighbour’s wall.
I don’t want to get all whingy and say that every metal album should have a Jim Steinman Meatloaf-style sheen, but we’ve gone beyond having to record two-tracks to cassette, for goodness’ sake. It’s the 21st century, it’s not that hard to get your music sounding half decent, no matter how paleolithic you want it to sound.
If you happen to see this band playing live near you, go see them. They probably sound amazing. But if you want to listen to them at home, wait until they find someone with fully functioning ears to record them.
