Emotionalpunk.com
Media Review
The Receiving End Of Sirens
Between The Heart And The Synapse (CD)
Music Quality: 8.5
Production: 8.5
Originality: 8.5
Tracklisting
2. Planning A Prison Break
3. The Rival Cycle
4. The Evidence
5. The War Of All Against All
6. Then I Defy You, Stars
7. Intermission
8. This Armistice
9. Broadcast Quality
10. Flee The Factory
11. Dead Men Tell No Tales
12. Venona
13. Epilogue
This really could be my surprise record of the year. I heard a bit of TREOS' stuff a while back and did not really think much of it. However, when returning to it, the layers really tend to reveal themselves.
The first thing to say about how great this album is has to be its sense of completion. The introduction, interlude and epilogue tracks each bring back memories of sounds that the listener has already heard on the album, or is soon preparing to hear. But once the introduction track is over, you will truly know that you are in for something very catchy, but also very visceral.
The first true song is "Planning A Prison Break." It is also the first single from the album, and rightfully so. It is a hooky track that remains sincere and avoids becoming annoyingly catchy. The vocals are incredible, erupting from every angle with a three-vocalist barrage from Alex, Brendon and Casey. The guitars pound powerfully in sequence with the bass drum in nearly every song; the boys rarely let up. The listener can really feel just how sincere and serious the band is throughout the course of the record, as it is short on whimsy and is heavy in its sense of solemnity.
Some of the songs have some complicated rhythms that work extremely well, such as the daedal 7/8 time signature in my favorite track, "The Rival Cycle." With these puzzling meters, the steamrolling guitars never abate themselves.
"Between The Heart And The Synapse" is a very reccomendable album. It has an instant quality of being accessible and listenable, but is deep enough to be picked apart for months, and possibly even years.