Music Banter - View Single Post

CoNtrivedNiHilism · 09-05-2014, 11:52 AM

#7

Band: Islander
Album: Violence & Destruction
Release: July 8th, 2014 via Victory Records
Length: 38:00
Tracklist:

1. Counteract
2. The Sadness of Graves
3. Coconut Dracula
4. Cold Speak
5. Pains
6. Kingdom
7. Side Effects of Youth
8. New Wave
9. Criminals (feat. Sonny Sandoval)
10. Mira
11. Hearts Grow Cold
12. Violence & Destruction

I would like to open this seventh installment in my top ten albums of 2014 thus far, with a band that has done their homework on Deftones, and exactly how to go about applying that influence to their music in a way that does not rip off the sound that Deftones pioneered, or rather built upon with their own influences.

DISCLAIMER!

Deftones was a band that got thrown in with all the other run of the mill nu-metal bands of the 2000's, unfairly so due to the fact that the music Deftones made, and still makes to this do, is leaps and bounds, infinitely more competent than ANY other band from that era of music that was associated with the nu-metal movement at that present time. The list of bands Deftones inspired to get out there and get noticed is a big one. They're not even twenty years in to their career and they're bigger now than they've ever been, I'd go far enough to say they're legends at this point. Deftones for life!

Let's get back on track...

Islander. Back in the middle half of 2014, I happened upon a this group in the right panel of recommendations on YouTube while watching an old Deftones video. I was like, hm, ok sure, I'll check them out. The song was New Colors. At first it didn't catch my ear. But I started listening closer and was noticing a sort of Deftones flare to the song. The chorus kicked in, and at that moment I was like a fish on a hook, flopping around. Suffice to say I was skeptical to find out if they were just a copy cat band. So I dug around and found a few other songs of theirs to check out, those being Coconut Dracula and New Wave. Coconut Dracula had this sort of easy going vibe about it, but it still had a sort of attitude or aggression to it that was interesting. There were nice sections of music that never really stayed the same, sort took on ambient tones. So the song itself sounded a bit space like to me, it was nice. New Wave is actually my favorite track from the bands debut Violence & Destruction. I'll tell you why...

The way New Wave is written collectively, it takes on a vivid imagery, courtesy of the competent lyrical content. The song and how it sounds, it's this chill tune, but pay mind to the use of that word, as I don't mean it in the respect that it's a mellow song. The song has bite. But it's also a song meant to be played loud, to revel in the moment to, as the point of the song is to just enjoy this life, this one life we all have. We're all only here temporarily. It's up to us how we spend that time, how we make it count. New Wave is a solid 10/10.

Some other note worthy tracks from the album are Counteract, which is a blistering album opener that took me back to the aggression of Deftones and their masterful Around The Fur album. Then we have the more straight forward rocker The Sadness of Graves, pulsing verses with a more relaxed chorus, great tones throughout the song. Pains is another standout track. The verses, like with The Sadness of Graves, resonate but with a more eerie contrast, and the chorus is more visceral. Lastly we have Cold Speak. I'd say it is maybe the most straight forward track on the album. But it's an engaging song that will get you moving.

The verdict is this. If you're looking for a band that has done their homework on how to take influence from Deftones, and go about it in a way with their own music that isn't ripping Deftones off, so in other words the music competent, smart...Islander is your band. They're ripe of potential to be something great if they play their cards right, and develop their sound further.

If or when the day comes that Deftones call it a day. Islander is the perfect band to carry on the torch for how to go about that specific style or sound the right way. So is Islander as good as Deftones? Nope. But they're damn good. Sure took me by surprise that I didn't write them off as a Deftones wannabe band.

Have a listen to a few of their songs.

Lucky Rabbit, from their EP.

Enjoy! Another review will be up shortly.

09-05-2014, 11:52 AM	#9 (permalink)
CoNtrivedNiHilism Because I Am, I Can! Join Date: Aug 2014 Posts: 1,128	#7 Band: Islander Album: Violence & Destruction Release: July 8th, 2014 via Victory Records Length: 38:00 Tracklist: 1. Counteract 2. The Sadness of Graves 3. Coconut Dracula 4. Cold Speak 5. Pains 6. Kingdom 7. Side Effects of Youth 8. New Wave 9. Criminals (feat. Sonny Sandoval) 10. Mira 11. Hearts Grow Cold 12. Violence & Destruction I would like to open this seventh installment in my top ten albums of 2014 thus far, with a band that has done their homework on Deftones, and exactly how to go about applying that influence to their music in a way that does not rip off the sound that Deftones pioneered, or rather built upon with their own influences. DISCLAIMER! Deftones was a band that got thrown in with all the other run of the mill nu-metal bands of the 2000's, unfairly so due to the fact that the music Deftones made, and still makes to this do, is leaps and bounds, infinitely more competent than ANY other band from that era of music that was associated with the nu-metal movement at that present time. The list of bands Deftones inspired to get out there and get noticed is a big one. They're not even twenty years in to their career and they're bigger now than they've ever been, I'd go far enough to say they're legends at this point. Deftones for life! Let's get back on track... Islander. Back in the middle half of 2014, I happened upon a this group in the right panel of recommendations on YouTube while watching an old Deftones video. I was like, hm, ok sure, I'll check them out. The song was New Colors. At first it didn't catch my ear. But I started listening closer and was noticing a sort of Deftones flare to the song. The chorus kicked in, and at that moment I was like a fish on a hook, flopping around. Suffice to say I was skeptical to find out if they were just a copy cat band. So I dug around and found a few other songs of theirs to check out, those being Coconut Dracula and New Wave. Coconut Dracula had this sort of easy going vibe about it, but it still had a sort of attitude or aggression to it that was interesting. There were nice sections of music that never really stayed the same, sort took on ambient tones. So the song itself sounded a bit space like to me, it was nice. New Wave is actually my favorite track from the bands debut Violence & Destruction. I'll tell you why... The way New Wave is written collectively, it takes on a vivid imagery, courtesy of the competent lyrical content. The song and how it sounds, it's this chill tune, but pay mind to the use of that word, as I don't mean it in the respect that it's a mellow song. The song has bite. But it's also a song meant to be played loud, to revel in the moment to, as the point of the song is to just enjoy this life, this one life we all have. We're all only here temporarily. It's up to us how we spend that time, how we make it count. New Wave is a solid 10/10. Some other note worthy tracks from the album are Counteract, which is a blistering album opener that took me back to the aggression of Deftones and their masterful Around The Fur album. Then we have the more straight forward rocker The Sadness of Graves, pulsing verses with a more relaxed chorus, great tones throughout the song. Pains is another standout track. The verses, like with The Sadness of Graves, resonate but with a more eerie contrast, and the chorus is more visceral. Lastly we have Cold Speak. I'd say it is maybe the most straight forward track on the album. But it's an engaging song that will get you moving. The verdict is this. If you're looking for a band that has done their homework on how to take influence from Deftones, and go about it in a way with their own music that isn't ripping Deftones off, so in other words the music competent, smart...Islander is your band. They're ripe of potential to be something great if they play their cards right, and develop their sound further. If or when the day comes that Deftones call it a day. Islander is the perfect band to carry on the torch for how to go about that specific style or sound the right way. So is Islander as good as Deftones? Nope. But they're damn good. Sure took me by surprise that I didn't write them off as a Deftones wannabe band. Have a listen to a few of their songs. Lucky Rabbit, from their EP. Enjoy! Another review will be up shortly. Last edited by CoNtrivedNiHilism; 09-05-2014 at 01:06 PM.