The Arusha Accord
The Echo Verses
A Wolf At Your Door Records
12 October 2009
by Angie Louder
I kid you not, I had to listen to this three times to actually realise I just listened to the new album from The Arusha Accord. The first time, my mind drifted and I ended up looking at Facebook…damn you, foul tempter. The second time, I errrmmm…have no idea.
I think I was fixating on where to watch that epic meteor shower next week. Wow, so many fascinating things that the blasting double bass and frantic guitar tapping just could not pull my attention away! I do hope you note the sarcasm.
Within each song you have the whole repertoire of what a melodic (slightly tech) metal band should be, so how is it that all of that can be so dull? One thing I’ll blame is that their sound seems a bit “copy and paste”. I know it’s what many bands do, but some pull it off well and thus get a pass on being derivative. If you don’t like that fact, don’t get mad at me. I don’t make the rules I just make them glaringly obvious.
There were moments were I had hope like on ‘Night of the Long Knives’. I thought, “Hey this could go somewhere…I could totally get into this.” Then nothing, just the slow fizzle of hope dying into a black pit of what looks like the back of my eyelids because I may have snoozed off a second there.
Watch The Arusha Accord’s recording diary from The Echo Verses sessions
To be honest, I think the record would have been a hell of a lot better recorded by a different producer/engineer. I listened to the same songs played live and they sounded drastically different. The intensity and aggression they put out on stage just didn’t translate into the studio. Next time guys, use a different producer and don’t get so buried in complex chord structures that you forget to fuck some shit up, thanks.
3/6
Sounds like: Alexisonfire, Bury Tomorrow, Shadows Chasing Ghosts
Fave tracks: Night of the Long Knives, Desolate, The Death of Thieves
The Arusha Accord – The Echo Verses tracklisting
Dead To Me
Tightrope
Desolate
The New Face of Revenge
Night of the Long Knives
The Echo Verse
The Resurgent
You Cried Wolf
The Death of Thieves
Solace
The Last Rise of the Fallen King
6 responses so far ↓
1 chris green // Nov 15, 2009 at 7:14 pm
Good to know there are still arseholes around,male or female,who haven’t a fucking clue about whats happening here..
Still,the ‘punters’ response around the UK. shows how clueless you are.
Dull!! Go and bury your head in some good old 4/4 downbeat!!
2 Angie // Nov 16, 2009 at 4:22 am
Yes, being an arsehole is an equal opportunity position. I’m American as well…which I assure you makes me quite knowledgeable in the ways of the arsehole. Reviews are opinions and last time I checked the ones that call other people names for having a differing opinion are in fact the biggest “arseholes” of all.
I do in fact know what’s going on in the UK, I just think there are other bands that are doing the same shit, but better.
3 chris green // Nov 19, 2009 at 7:52 am
Oh well, I suppose being in a minority of one gives you some gravitas.By the way,as you know so much about the UK music scene,the Album was recorded at Outhouse Studios,Reading.Check out the names of other bands who have recorded there,you may learn a bit about the UK metal scene .
Clearly progresive/experimental is not on your agenda
4 chris green // Nov 19, 2009 at 7:54 am
thats “progressive”
5 me // Jan 5, 2010 at 7:25 am
yeah!
6 Adam // Jan 5, 2010 at 5:51 pm
Just because an album is recorded at the same place as other “great” albums doesn’t necessarily mean that that album will also be great. Chris Green I don’t understand your point.
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