Cat Temper - From a Whisker to a Scream

Review by Karl Magi

Overall Album Impressions

Cat Temper’s From a Whisker to a Scream takes listeners on a voyage through tranquility and peace to massive power and vastly sweeping vistas. Cat Temper uses his synth palette to weave together galactic imagery through a series of fascinating tones and textures. His well-written melodies interact with all of the different sounds to produce vivid imagery in my mind's eye as I travel across the stars with this album.

The very visceral and beautiful imagery that Cat Temper paints on From a Whisker to a Scream is one of the most compelling parts of it for me. The artist uses his skill and excellent ear to intermingle a wide variety of different synthesizer colors, textures and sensations to illustrate each track. I feel myself carried away on a rising tide of emotion and the feeling of the unending cosmic tapestry spreading before me.

Another engaging element of From a Whisker to a Scream is Cat Temper's ability to write excellent melodies. The melodic content on this album is touching, powerful and bursting with a cosmic feeling. Out of all of the albums that I've reviewed from this artist, this one takes me on the most intriguing journey as it unfolds. He manages to evoke all of the danger and immense beauty of the universe in which we live.

I am also attracted to the way in which all of the different layered elements interact on this album. Cat Temper skillfully brings all of the different synthesizer sounds together with his melodic and harmonic composition to produce a scintillating voyage through the stars. I find myself strongly enmeshed in the end result.

My Favourite Tracks Analyzed

"Across the Stratosfur" comes into being as flaring synth chords extend into open space. As the chords sweep, they give the music a very broad feeling and a breeze flows as ethereally tremulous synth spins out in a widely drifting pattern. Bass moves steadily as a synth supernova grows in blindingly flaring lines.

The bass becomes a colossal pulsation as razor-sharp notes twirl and a hi-hat ticks to guide the music forward. The bass remains a steady force as rhythmically spinning high notes are joined by resonant bells that fill the music with delicate light. In the distance, a gruff synth shivers, adding texture. Expansive synth chords swirl and the drums shape the music more thoroughly.

Chiming notes echo with smoothness while contributing a melancholy feeling. The background synth tumbles together, creating immense strength as the drums collide. An arpeggio twirls intensely, while gleaming synth chords plane through the music.

I enjoy the arpeggios' active nature as they contribute to the feeling of spaceflight. This track evokes a sensation of adventure and the presence of unknown forces moving through the galaxy. The track ends on reverent notes sliding past, with trembling synth moving softly in the distance.

Computerized-sounding, easily riffling notes swirl upward to open "Purrallel Worlds." Deeper notes begin to throb underneath as the smoothly trickling synth spins out and bass pulsates in quick bursts. A delicately floating panpipe synth carries an ethereal melody with a timeless feel, while twirling notes tumble around it.

The panpipes have a haunting, airy delicacy as they dance through the music, with the breathy melody climbing above cascading notes and bursting drums. The track crescendos as the sharply glowing synth rises and a medium-high synth rebounds while the panpipe-like synth cries out, carrying the smoothly exhaling melody.

Broadly shifting chords echo in the distance, drawing me into the sensation of floating on a tide of softly drifting air. The lead synth adds another layer of luminosity as aquatically bubbling notes tremble in the background.

A sense of increasing urgency fills the music as it winds tighter, with the widely revolving synth moving underneath the panpipes as they exhale. Intensely intertwining notes vibrate together as the main melody climbs to a brilliant peak and closes with twanging guitar.

“Force Meowjure” starts as a wobbling synth with a ragged edge and swelling brightness moves with a desolate wind. Tranquil, floating synth moves in easy tidal ripples as the almost vocal-sounding synth wanders past and the endless wind blows. Tiny points of light move in a rhythmic pattern as the deep flow underneath extends outward.

A broken glass synth pours out serenity and melancholy has the sharper edges underneath break. A drum bursts and pulses as the unctuous depths move outward and the metallic, flashing synth carries an ancient-feeling melody. Arpeggios revolve relentlessly, imbued with sadness as the drum burst continues. The broadly ringing synth moves in short pulses as the background is filled with angular sound.

Arpeggios continue to swirl outward, adding dynamism as the drums pulse in time to them. Flaring sounds cut through the music with tension and a new melody comes in, moving on a trembling, minor-key synth with an almost baroque feeling, adding more nervousness to the music before the track comes to an end on ominous bass.

Tremulous chimes echo with a ghostly pattern to begin “Alpha Catauri.” Extended synth tides glide outward with massive bass throbbing below, adding an ominous sensation as it expands and contracts slowly. Long flows of intensely brilliant synth chords reach outward through the music in washing waves.

A broad-sounding, hollow synth drifts through the music in a descending pattern as winds sweep past and a reverent choir calls out. The track’s fiery light fills the distance and the open-voiced notes glide past easily. I enjoy the way in which the melody is caressing and full of affectionate tenderness as the chimes float in the background.

The bass continues to rebound impactfully as the washing notes glide through and cleanly glowing notes undulate with flickering starlight. A resonant synth comes in, carrying a melody that is rich and tinged with a mournful feeling. Now the bass pulses in short bursts and the open-sounding, pipe-like synth descends over it until the track comes to an end.

"Turn of the Tail" opens as a flowing, bell-like synth moves in a smoothly oscillating line, adding a meditative sensation to the music. The drums and bass bounce in an uneven pattern as the lissome notes entangle and brilliant, trumpeting synth leaps outward as a punctuation. A laser-like sound sweeps in and now the drums and bass undulate and pound, darkly energetic as they flow through the music.

Snare drum bursts cut in and the angular, shifting notes are joined by a scintillating synth that intermingles in a swirling melody as the brassy sounds continue to slice in. Dynamism defines this track in a way that I find compelling, mingling synthesized layers with a palpable feeling of forward motion.

As the bright synth continues to climb upward in minor key lines, tangling, hollow bells twine together and the low end shifts smoothly. Punctuating luminosity pours out of a continually twinkling synth as the lusher low end and the heavy drums carry the track to an end.

Galactic pulses echoing into vast space start off “Dark Kitty.” A broadly roving synth moves along with orchestral notes that call out with increasing intensity and drama as a ticking percussive sound moves below.

The drums begin to pound with harsh force and the towering orchestra is joined by a brass section that creates motivational energy which uplifts me. Flashing synth notes leap through the music with an adventurous sensation, cut by the radiant synth that shines through the music.

Orchestral notes and brass give way to strings and a harpsichord that carries a melancholy, haunting melody. The spinning notes in the distance add a ghostly feeling as the thundering bass rumbles and the orchestra rolls through the music. Panpipes ripple and the active drums and bass throb as the string-like notes swirl and dance.

Active speed fills the music with a feeling of rocketing through the stars. Now the massive bass throbs and the broadly bursting notes call out. The drums and bass create propulsion and tensely sparkling notes are cut by open panpipes before the track ends.

“Birdwatcher” commences with ferociously ominous bass swelling into a forceful tide. The bass begins to rush forward with seething strength as echoing percussion floats out into space. The drums collide in a clashing beat as the heaving bass moves far below. Intimidating strength emanates from the bass and now it flows out in shadowy notes, filling the low end of the track. Intensely radiant synthesizers flicker in wandering lines as the hollow percussion taps.

The low end erupts, raging with guitar that adds even more strength before leaping into a swirling solo that rides through the music. Anger and danger emanate from the guitar as it slashes through, while the drums batter and climbing synthesizers wind up the tension. Cat Temper shreds on the guitar, creating jagged edges that slice through the music as bright notes shine.

Clean, sharp synthesizers leap in quickly, dancing lines that fill the track with flickering light. The drums collide now as the guitar charges and lambent synth howls with dramatic life as the bass churns below. The guitar solo is feral, ripping through the music before wobbling noises emerge. A piano undulates as a string-like synthesizer adds an enigmatic feeling to the music. I am enamored of the many layers that combine to create this luscious track. The music ends with a distinctly spectral feeling.

Ethereal notes drift smoothly into open space as giant bass rumbles to commence “Escape Claws”. Rippling synthesizers become more powerful as the gigantic bass moves. The arpeggios wander out as a floating sound descends and the bass feels dark and heavy. Cosmic noises flicker past as the endlessly turning arpeggios roam.

Bells add luminosity above the weighty low end as it sweeps past. The bells ring with huge force, crying out into the filigreed sounds around them as a wind flows. The sense of galactic forces interacting is palpable and draws me in.

A sharply nasal-sounding synthesizer winds through the music with an uplifting quality, painting a picture of planetary vistas opening wide as it hovers. There’s a slight distortion in the melody, adding an alien quality as it climbs with triumphant nobility. The drums continue to shape the music as the track slides into silence on tumbling arpeggios.

Conclusion

From a Whisker to a Scream has become one of my favourites from Cat Temper’s catalog. It reaches a high level and is one of the more cohesive and sonically pleasing works he's ever produced. I could listen to this music over and over again and never grow tired of it.

Miami Nights 1984 - Gunblaze Assault

Review by Karl Magi

Overall Album Impressions

Miami Nights 1984’s Gunblaze Assault carries me away to the days of my youth with a jazz fusion-influenced blast of Japanese-style video game music. This soundtrack to a game that never existed combines a superbly woven atmosphere, ear-pleasing melodies, and a sense of action punctuated by short moments of chilled-out respite. Miami Nights 1984 manages to capture the excitement, joy, and nostalgia of classic mech shooters in a way that I find irresistible.

The first thing that attracts me to Gunblaze Assault is the way in which Miami Nights 1984 skillfully evokes the atmosphere of a classic mech shooter. The types of synths he uses and the sound palette form a compelling picture. I can see the thrilling cutscenes of space battles, envision the shop screen as you upgrade your equipment, and imagine the excitement as the game unfolds and carries the listener away into its world.

Another excellent element of Gunblaze Assault is the melodic content. Miami Nights 1984 captures the jazz fusion-influenced work of many Japanese video game composers and adds his own twist. The melodies create a strongly visual impression of action and emotion, conveying the different states of mind experienced during gameplay. There's a freshness and spontaneity to the melodic composition that keeps me listening and brings me closer to the music.

I also enjoy the way in which the album moves through the different states of gameplay that one might experience. There's the anticipation of the battles to come, the adrenaline-pumping moments when one is fighting those battles, and the short segments in which tranquil melodies and soothing sounds flow to give the player a chance to rest and recover before another blast of excitement and action.

My Favourite Tracks Analyzed

"Loadout" comes to life with a bursting explosion that growls before quickly leaping drums and gnarly bass shift into motion. A ringing, string-like synth carries a drifting melody that hovers with tremulous ease. Trumpeting notes flash as the funky bass interlocks with smoothly shaping drums.

The bass adds an ear-pleasing groove that I enjoy, while sparkling notes cry out with lambent grace. A medium-high synth introduces an urgent pulsation, blending with the throbbing bass and tiny digital sounds that shiver in the background. The string-like synth slips through the music with breezy smoothness, creating a sense of calm.

Bell-like notes flash in the distance as the bass continues its rhythmic pulsation. There's a sense of growing anticipation in the music that draws me further into it. The song ends with the pulsing bass and trembling notes, leaving a resonant impression.

An actively leaping synth with a xylophone-like quality is joined by slap bass and rushing air to commence "Aerial Combat." The funky bass moves alongside an echoing synth flow, joined by brassy notes that flash out in a melody bursting with active motion, capturing the feeling of ripping through space in a freewheeling combat flight.

Effulgent synth notes trickle out in a melody that evokes weightlessness, while vibrant notes intertwine below it. The main melody has a smooth, floating quality as it unwinds, filling me with a sense of freedom. A rounded, twisting synth cries out above the popping slap bass and rises in a whirling dance before tumbling down again. The drums and bass pump onward as the gleaming synth unfolds, twirling through the music with acrobatic elegance before the track ends.

“Big City Air Drop” commences as a spiky synth moves in rapid pulses and the sound of a helicopter shifts in the distance. The drums and bass are a rushing charge as a computerized voice echoes out. The drums and bass become a broken beat as they speed out underneath the open voice and smoothly gliding synth.

The low end is a blur, creating excitement as a jazz-inflected, rounded synth carries a melody that falls and climbs in a rapidly trickling cascade, then whirls outward madly and bends. The low end is joined by funky slap bass as flanging synth notes spin out through the music. In the distance, angular sounds flare outward as the drum and bass beat rattles underneath. String-like synth entangles with luscious luminosity and metallic piano keys add another element of brightness.

I enjoy the way this track generates drama and thrilling emotion as it unfolds. The quickly trembling synth in the distance expands outward with sharp edges and gem-like notes ring out. The low end continues to tap and flick with the slap bass moving before silence falls.

A steadily pulsing, rough-edged synth moves along with a tapping snare drum and rebounding bass to start “Robotics Laboratory.” The exploratory melody comes in on a sonorous, string-like synth as sharp-edged notes glow into the music and slap bass twangs.

Open-sounding, trickling synth dances in a circular pattern, adding motion. Radiant notes cut into the music as the slap bass adds a funky quality, and the low end continues to move with unstoppable energy.

A wandering melody, carried on a bending synth, has a glowing glide to it that draws me in as it twists past and the low end guides the music. Vibrant strings call out as the slap bass pulses, sliding past in a lustrous motion. The track slowly fades away on the bass pulse.

“Fire It Up” begins as a propulsive slap bass pushes the music forward and a minor-key, metallic synth calls out in a dramatic melody. Ghostly voices call out as the driving low end pushes forward, and the enigmatic melody unfurls on the softly shining synth. A xylophone-like synth flickers past, adding speed and subtle light as the haunting notes twist and wriggle.

I am drawn in by the way this track evokes both speed and a feeling of impending danger. The drums and bass glide along as elevated, alien-sounding notes bend past, rising and falling. The tension is wound up as the main melody continues to move in nervous lines and the low end is unstoppable.

A fluting synth cascades through the music with smooth ease, infused with a jazzy feeling as it leaps. The low end and the bassline continue to rush forward as the synth spins wildly before piano-like notes carry the minor-key melody to the end.

The heavy drums collide with irresistible weight as a tightly wound synth spins out and the snare drum ticks rapidly to kick off “Barometric Pressure.” Synth flashes cut into the music as the drums and bass collide and a piano melody—softly touching—skips through the music like a leaf on a breeze. The low end drives forward with dynamic life as a wandering, taut synth swirls through the music to add another level of tension.

Luminescent piano chords move above the skittering drums and pounding bass, further adding to the sense of flight and blurring motion. Now, a medium-high, sharp-edged synth carries a melody that unwinds with twirling liveliness, carrying me along with it as I imagine free flight. The synth solo is intricate and full of whirling energy and the piano twinkles before silence falls.

“Thank You For Playing” starts as tranquil, widely sweeping synth chords echo into open space. A pervasive sense of calm infuses the music as a hi-hat ticks lightly and the rounded synth carries a peacefully hovering melody. Electric guitar twangs into the music and the bass begins to add more energy as the main melody sails out with relaxed sensations pouring from it.

The twanging guitar and pulsing bass move the track forward as the burnished lead melody glides past. An elevated, cleanly cutting synth carries a hopeful melody that expresses a sense of relief above the quickly throbbing bass. The dance guitar adds another element of sharpness as the track washes into silence on a glimmering synth.

Conclusion

Gunblaze Assault is a superb homage to some of the best Japanese video games of the 1990s. It captures their galvanizing dynamism and the jazzy melodic soundscapes created by their soundtracks. Miami Nights 1984 brings together the best elements of those games and creates an exciting and wonderfully nostalgic trip down memory lane for me.

Sonic Cartography

Written by Chris Magdalenski

The Simple Joys of Sonic Cartography:

A Meditation on the Act of Discovery and Where the Road Leads Next

Besides playing guitar or mindlessly noodling on a synth, one of my favorite musical pastimes has become diving the depths of Bandcamp in search of new music. 

This has always been something I've been somewhat lackluster about. I never quite shook off my Gen X experience of corporate media having an outsized influence on what I was listening to at any given time, despite the fact that I know full well that these days one may have to do a little work to find those diamonds hidden in field after field of the rough.

Thanks in no small part to my new role on Absynth's editorial staff, I've made it my focus to become far more proactive in my efforts to discover interesting new music in the darker, grittier genres like metal, postpunk and darkwave, among others.

While this is largely where my own personal tastes lie, it also nods to the future of Absynth itself. The time has come for the platform to expand beyond the synth community, offering content that encompasses work from our dark artist brethren all across the musical landscape.

You might've already read the stories about, (and hopefully listened to), some of our efforts already. Prog metal newcomers Dread Majesty are a find that we are all still banging our heads to, while smaller more personal projects such as "Finite Planetary Possibilities" by Vernal Ecosphere and "A Violent Egress" by Stygian Ruin offer fresh takes on the dark ambient and black metal genres respectively.

Both the act of discovering and getting the word out about these artists is something myself, and the rest of the staff at Absynth love doing. Bandcamp has become my primary excavation ground, and though there are plenty of other sources to tap, it is the one I find myself revisiting over and over. It the place I often start my journeys of musical discovery, or as I know like to call it - my own personal sonic cartography.

I’m not sure what prompted that particular phrase, I might well have picked it up from somewhere else along the way, but I can’t get the concept out of my head. The Sonic Cartographer, studiously charting the ever expanding realms of music in an effort to make what was previously unknown known. To discover exciting new worlds of sound and expression and share our findings with anyone and everyone willing to listen.

To continue drafting the map of our musical adventures so we can always reference where we’ve been and where we are going.

Becoming a Sonic Cartographer has provided me a simple, yet powerful joy in my life. One that I would wholly recommend to anyone no matter what types of music you listen to. 

Won’t you join us on our next journey?

Null-O Band & Jeff Vicario - Tales From The Day After

Review by Karl Magi

Overall Album Impressions

Null-O Band & Jeff Vicario’s Tales From The Day After explores the aftermath of a dystopian digital disaster. The way in which Jeff Vicario’s superb vocal performance mingles with darkly affecting lyrics and a sonic background that seethes and rages, full of lurking danger and imminent destruction, creates a compelling exploration of the dangerous digital brink on which humanity hangs.

Jeff Vicario's performance on Tales From The Day After is a major reason for its success. His vocal range and ability to capture raw emotion, transmitting the intensity of the lyrics, allow the album's messages to permeate fully. The lead singer fills the music with anger or simmering tension, sometimes touching on deeply painful feelings. The end result is a performance that enhances the darkness and desperation filling the music.

In terms of songwriting, Tales From The Day After delves deeply into themes of digital peril, human blindness and the potential dangers of uncontrolled artificial intelligence. The writing is clean, sharp and uncompromising, telling a story while leaving a cautionary message for listeners about the folly of descending too far down a digital rabbit hole. I appreciate how the songs deliver their message with punch and without hesitation.

A mixture of uncomfortable synthesized sounds, ferocious guitar slashing through the music and a pulsing low end creates an environment that emphasizes the shadowy, dystopian nature of the world that Null-O Band has crafted in Tales From The Day After. The soundscape is unsettling and full of rage, ideally complementing the lyrics and vocals that transmit the cautionary tale within the music.

My Favourite Tracks Analyzed

"The Future Is Bright" starts as a nervously twisting synth quickly bends through the music while the drums and bass trip along. The lead synth carries an uncomfortable quality as Jeff Vicario’s voice captures the tension and anger of the lyrics. The battering percussion and rattling, slashing sounds tearing through the music add another layer of discomfort.

Metallic synth ripples in trembling lines as the percussion shatters and vibrates. The haunted vocals call out with ominous emotion, while growling guitar twists in the background. The entire track begins to seethe with rage as Jeff Vicario channels all the subversive emotion in the lyrics.

The track transforms into a roaring storm of guitar and battering percussion. A glimmering synth vaults through the music, emanating wriggling sensations. Grating noises lacerate the soundscape as dramatic lyrics resound, and the low end taps and throbs. The vocals exude an unsettling intensity as the guitar slices in with angry strength, while the pounding drums and bass persist underneath.

Jeff Vicario amplifies the dramatic sensations in the music as a steadily writhing synth pulses, leading to an explosive finale. The song ends with Vicario’s threatening voice as the guitar climbs into bizarre, howling heights.

The storyteller speaks of "another node in the network" which is growing more rapid and louder as the "pile of digital junk" approaches critical mass. He points out that the idea of art is now obsolete because "all you need is content." He mentions seeking shares, likes and follows as people "buy, sell, cheat and rent."

Our narrator states that "the best of the worst are the worst of the best" as they take over the stage. He adds that "the new enlightenment is generated outrage." He goes on to say that the future is bright "because of the fires" and they must "cut down more trees" for the funeral pyres. He speaks of minting new NFTs, adding that the future remains bright because there's fuel for the fires.

The storyteller continues, saying there’s "another jolt in the mainframe," which is getting louder and faster. There is "a jumble of zeros and ones, generating negative sums." He explains that fresh water is needed to cool "rows of CPUs" warning that heat death will follow and no one will escape.

A maelstrom of guitar and steadily throbbing drums kicks off“ Control.” Jeff Vicario’s distorted voice echoes with manic energy, expressing madness and a lack of control. The guitar descends in rapidly charging lines and the drums burst while the bass and drums pop.

There's a hypnotic, chanting quality to the vocals that captures the darkness within the music. The guitar uncurls in jagged motion as the drums pulse and Jeff Vicario’s voice is twisted and full of threat. The massive guitar surges with dangerous energy and a twisting synth wobbles through the music.

The drums are a steady pulse as the guitar tears its way through the music above the relentless bass. Shadows surge as the rough-edged guitar drives through the music and the drums continue to pulse before silence falls.

Our narrator addresses the listener saying, "You might cling to our sense of empathy or let go and simply wallow in misery" because as World War Three begins, "there’s only too much shit to cause you grief." He reflects that if he were to let go, it wouldn’t matter and no one would ever know. When everything is "on the brink of total catastrophe" he says "they got a choice few words for little ol' me."

The storyteller reveals that those words are: "I control the message, I suspend the memes," as they talk about their power over recession and their ability to suspend the populace's disbelief. He continues, "I control the public, I suspend disease” as they assert their control over people’s emptiness and their demand for a suspension of disbelief.

“Our Last Sunset” starts with humming, mechanical sounds moving alongside a ringing, metallic glockenspiel-like tone and the rich vibrations of a hang drum. Wordless female vocals drift with the clicking, ambient sounds as Jeff Vicario’s gently caressing voice evokes melancholy tenderness. Extended, crystalline notes revolve above the gently ticking drums.

Jeff Vicario’s vocals are aching and enveloping, carrying a tentative melody enfolded by the surrounding thumping and ringing. Dangerous-sounding notes echo in the background, mingling with flickering chimes and computerized noises. The spectral vocals trail through the music as the background wriggles and twists. I’m drawn to how this song combines unsettling and fragile sounds, with the hang drum-like synth calling out softly in the background.

The vocals roam through the music with diaphanous light as the slowly shimmering synth weaves through, guided by the steady drums. Sweeping sounds in the distance are touched by ethereal notes floating above them. A darkly rising mood fills the composition while flashing chimes add illumination. The percussion rebounds, metallic sounds ring out and silence falls.

The storyteller discusses the song's subject, saying they are “painting the world while it is burning outside.” He describes the other person painting all the “beauty and horror” as shadows challenge the light. He urges them to “paint it dark in the colors of midnight” and speaks of the prophet’s twisted smile, “draped in shreds of moonlight.”

Our narrator continues, describing an insane prophet dancing in the street, “right on the corner where we used to meet.” As the brushstrokes are finalized, the last sunset fallsand the narrator reflects that the song’s subject “still can’t comprehend the prospect of an endless night.”

Heavily heaving drums and bass move with a trumpeting, gnarled synth that shivers through the music to open “Happy Machine.” The guitar and drums shatter with the colossal bass that smashes into the music as Jeff Vicario chants with great power, capturing every ounce of threatening feeling in the lyrics.

The drums and bass are a raging storm that tears its way through the track. The chugging guitar is angry and full of muscled strength as Jeff Vicario’s voice carries the distorted lyrics, full of ominous life. The synth in the background bends and howls as the grinding guitar rams through the music with rough energy.

Now a rebounding synth adds with surprising delicacy as the drums tick more slowly. Jeff Vicario sings the words with a deadly shadow filling his voice. The guitar is a roaring force that rips through the music as the whole track charges forward with unsettling sounds creaking in the background as the guitar churns to a conclusion.

Our narrator speaks of the "happy machine" that is "biomechanical, maniacal, self-sustaining, irrevocable." It is soaked in a binary stream of data with its "virtual mouth open in silent scream."

The storyteller speaks of this machine as being "simple and clean, lean and mean." He talks about how it will "revoke, reanimate, obliterate," but with its design flaw, it won't "reciprocate."

There is a "flash firestorm, still simmering," which the narrator says will soon give in to a "violent scene." He talks about an AI hallucinating as everything falls apart into "reverse evolution, the final stage."

Now the storyteller talks about how the happy machine will "slash, maimand kill without even sparing a single limb" in an "orgy of blood and gasoline."

“The Last One Standing” begins as gigantic bass rumbles and spectral strings slowly unwind in a melody evoking ancient folk music. The string-like notes flicker as full-sounding, mournful synths roamand a bell rings out. The bass is deep and lush as the fragile strings tenderly caress the music.

Jeff Vicario’s vocals take on the qualities of folk tunes from across the world as floating, haunted synths slip past and metallic percussion calls out. The vocals are pained and emotive as they wend their way through the music with melancholy emotion. I enjoy the expression within Jeff Vicario’s trembling vocals as they tell this tale. Chiming notes flit through the music above a lugubrious bass flow, emphasizing the tragic note in the vocals.

A guitar cries out with an equally emotive melodic line that drifts through the music with a ghostly quality as Jeff Vicario’s voice lingers. An electric guitar moves into the music, carrying a melody that conveys loss and longing, tinged with a minor-key quality. The guitar has more than a hint of the blues before the track ends on the ancient-sounding strings and resonant bells.

The storyteller says that the song's main character knew, in a strange way, that a mysterious "they" would come again that night. The lies that were once told were trueand now "her shrouded past (would be) unveiled, unmasked, reviled."

Our narrator points out that the main character had "the whole world in her sights” for a while. Now it's time for a final stand with her "shotgun in hand." She is "classified, undesirable, redefined, inadmissible" and she's going to make her last stand.

Rapidly swirling, ragged guitar moves along with the angular synth that vibrates behind it to kick off “The Future Is Brighter.” The electric guitar howls with a feral sound, joined by slicing notes and a cruising drumbeat. The guitar is a leaping, intertwining presence, infusing the music with madly driven energy as a robotic voice chants a threatening message.

The guitar arcs, crying out with maniacal vitality, while its vibrations slip through the music with unmoored energy. Behind it, the synth cascades in organ-like notes that provide a contrastingly positive feeling amidst the jagged tension.

As the track progresses, the guitar cries out again in a solo that explodes with unrestrained dynamism. This solo amplifies the feeling of uncontrolled wildness that permeates the music while the drums and bass maintain a steady groove. The track concludes with irrepressible guitar sounds and an angular note pattern that trembles and fades.

The intelligence in the song speaks, saying, “I believe in brighter future...humanoid must not escape....I believe in brighter future....they are just apes, trying to be less apes.”

“The Day After” commences with a portentous wall of shuddering bass and uncomfortable sounds that move alongside Jeff Vicario’s spectral voice, shadowed and full of ache as the sepulchral low end rumbles. An ancient-sounding stringed instrument strums as Jeff Vicario’s ghostly voice shivers through the music and the low end seethes.

The medieval-sounding stringed instrument creates feelings of timeless darkness as hollow percussion popsand Jeff Vicario captures the broken sense of loss in the lyrics. A delicate female voice hovers in the distance as the shaker percussion maintains a steady motion. I appreciate how the organic-sounding instrument mingles with the surging blackness around itand how Jeff Vicario’s voice trails into silence.

Our narrator talks about the disconcerting silence of the empty streets. Nearly everybody is gone and the "poisoned wind tells a story to a pile of bones." He goes on to point out that nobody knows how it began, unsure of who started it - us or them. He concludes with the question, "Would it give us some purpose having someone to blame?”

Conclusion

Tales From The Day After is full of intense anger, lingering fear and images of a world destroyed by human excess and uncontrolled technology. The way in which it manages to be both entertaining and thought-provoking makes it a listening experience that I'll gladly repeat.