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
12 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.
7 Simon // Feb 12, 2010 at 10:54 pm
this review is an utter disgrace. why is a women reviewing tech metal? go and listen to spice girls you small minded yank bitch
8 Hugh // Feb 13, 2010 at 1:47 am
This comment is an utter farce. Why is a male chauvanist pig commenting on the internet? Go listen to the sound of your mother wanking off a dutch sailor, you small-cocked dick-rag
9 Luke // Feb 13, 2010 at 12:09 pm
Ha, come on people .. this is getting a bit silly! I’m actually in the band and I’d rather not have to read all these lovely comments under the review : )
You’re entitled to your opinions Angie .. although ‘fucking shit up’ isn’t what we’re about! we’re a musical project. It sounds like tech metal isn’t really your thing x
10 Jack // Feb 13, 2010 at 12:35 pm
I just think that the lovely reviewer has no idea what is going on.
Sounds like alexisonfire and bury tomorrow?! Really? I mean look, they are both god bands, but they sound NOTHING like TAA. I’m not saying everyone should love the album, but at least have it reviewed by someone with knowledge of the genre.
As for “fucking shit up” what does that mean? Dead to me is insane, but is it the lack of half time breakdowns that gets you tits in a twist?
Nest time have a musician review the album.
11 Mister Turner // Feb 13, 2010 at 12:46 pm
Whoever wrote this review is clearly musically retarded and doesn’t understand anything past a 4/4 time signature. Open your ears and your mind. This is my current favourite album, its literally a technical masterpiece and I can’t understand how anyone, even if they aren’t so massively into metal, could doubt the sheer complexity and ridiculous musicianship it has. Fucking incredible band and insane album.
12 Niall // Feb 13, 2010 at 1:05 pm
Haha! This review leaves me speechless.
Everyone is entitled to their opinion but is the reviewer sure she even listened to “The Echo Verses”?
Ironically, this review makes me want to listen to the album all day and giggle at how wrong anything could be (which I’m going to do) and a few people have already covered what I would have said myself so I’ll leave it at that.
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