I’m not sure what to make of this three track release; while it clearly has a metal edge, it also has a punk ethic going on but also emotion drenched vocals. So as much as I want to refrain from using this term I guess it is post-hardcore but not your stereotypical whiney voiced stuff with screaming ala ‘insert generic post-hardcore name here’. And while OF do clearly have the typical clichéd calendar reference in their name they are a bit different from the usual tripe.
Opening track ‘Landslide’ kicks things off with some meaty sounding drums before breaking into a mid paced rock riff you’d want to ride a Harley to. When the vocals come in you know about it as they again are pretty butch sounding, but very fitting. Lyrically though it only has 6 lines and their repeated use only just about works as the dynamics of the music increases towards the end of the track.
‘Dead Air Transmission’ is a bit heavier and generally more pissed off than the first track but again it sort of bundles along at the same sort of pace. It starts getting a bit repetitive though as again there are literally only a few vocal lines constantly repeated. There’s not even a nice metallic breakdown and even though it’s threatened throughout the song it just fails to arrive.
‘Sleeping through’ is a good way to end the affair as it’s clearly the strongest track. Although not fundamentally different to the last track, it just sounds a lot better a song in generally. But again there’s not too much going on musically as the song is constructed from a limited amount of riffs and sequences.
The distorted bass, which features throughout, sounds effective and the production is spot on creating a meaty and warm sound which suits the band well. But from this offering I can’t help but feel that OCTOBER FILE are a one trick pony, as to be honest, there is little to distinguish from the three tracks.
Golf Records
Mike