EP REVIEW
CUBIC SPACE DIVISION (Available now for £2.50 inc p&p) 1. PER SE
www.cubicspacedivision.vze.com
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Cubic Space Division are a new four-piece band that includes ex-Earthtone9 bass player Jamie Floate, who returns to the guitar and also shares the vocals. They have created this short debut EP release at Phila Studios with Martin Barbour and are initially self-distributing via their website until a deal can be secured. The driving power of 'Per Se' shows that this band are a force to be reckoned with as shear heaviness dominates right from the onset. What then balances this song (and what the band do very well generally), is to merge melody into the blast without losing any of that awesome heaviness. This ability is demonstrated more so in 'Red Shift' with interspersed jangley guitars amongst the aggression. They really do manage to mix the light with dark, the heavy with the mellow, in a very similar way that Mahumodo manage, but with less emphasis on intensity and more on bruising heaviness. The vocals are used to maximum effect to enhance that vibe, on occasions being agonisingly hoarse and painfully throat ripping, on others becoming almost angelic with high tuneful voices and polite singing. It's quite a contrast, but it does work very well. They have been likened to Neurosis as well as Cult of Luna and these influences can certainly be heard. Not completely unexpected and it has to be said very pleasingly, the legacy of Jamie's time with Earthtone9 also claims it's place. It's a subtle but definite et9 influence to elements of the sound and it just exudes a hard to explain feeling that come from within. This is an excellent two-track EP, with good hearty, aggressive songs but with a pleasant melody mix that really does work well. The only real criticism is a selfish one and that is that it's too damn short. With just two tracks covering only seven minutes of music, it's impossible to get a complete measure of a band and all you can really say is that those two songs were highly enjoyable. However, it's unlikely that this is all the band have to offer and so there's the need to hear more, but much more importantly with Cubic Space Division you actually 'want' to hear more! Rigsby (13th November, 2002) |
