Love and Other Disasters
Love and Other Disasters by Sonic Syndicate is a more than competently executed album. It may not be absolutely perfect in my eyes, but it certainly grabbed my attention. I had never heard of these guys and when I turned this album on, I found myself wanting to hear what was next. That is a true sign of success. An album can have its imperfections here and there, because let’s face it, it’s really hard to come out with something that’s a complete homerun. The real test is if the album gets you interested enough to hear what’s next.
What I like about Sonic Syndicate is that they do a fine job of balancing melody with metal. They’re not brutally heavy, and at the same time they’re no softies. Combining singing and growling, this kind of music is ideal for those who like their music with a little bit of edge or bite, but nothing that’s going to send them cowering under the bed in absolute terror and insanity. (Reviewer’s Note: I have never seen an album do that to somebody, but if I am ever lucky to witness such a sight, that sad and pathetic bastard will end up on YouTube!)
The only problem I have when it comes to Love and Other Disasters is the fact that they can try a little too hard with some of the more mellower songs. It’s fine and dandy to have a mix of heavy and not-so-heavy, but sometimes the transition can be a tad awkward. Nothing that makes you want to stop listening, so please don’t take it as that. Some of the more mellow songs were misses for me, but I’m happy to say that I found the album to have more successes within it.
Favorite songs are “Encaged,” “Jack of Diamonds,” “Power Shift,” “Damage Control” and “Affliction.” These are the songs that I would be proud to have on my iPod any day. Not to take anything away from the other cuts on the album, those just tend to be my absolute favorites.
Is Love and Other Disasters the album for you? That depends. If you’re looking for something extremely heavy and unrelenting, then probably not. The same applies to if you’re looking for something soothing and mellow. You have to appreciate music that can be heavy and melodic at the same time. Check them out at www.myspace.com/sonicsyndicate and see if they’re something that you may enjoy if you need more of a feel of what the band’s all about.
