RESONATE are a young three piece from the South West and ‘Eyes Like Fountains’ is the bands latest EP, recorded in July. The accompanying press sheet builds the band up quite a lot, in fact probably quite a bit more than necessary. And to be honest when something is hyped up to me and then doesn’t cut the mustard I’m always left with a rather bitter taste in my mouth, when this is a first impression of a band I’ve previously not heard of it doesn’t really bode too well. Anyway, to follow the adapted proverb; I’ll try and let the music do the talking.
So if music can talk, RESONATE‘s music growls and snarls its way across the three tracks on this release. Guitar crunch, vocals are angry in that slightly off-key way and the drums provide a thunderous backbone to a generally raw and just plain noisy atmosphere. However, the way I’ve just described the band doesn’t really indicate whether they’re actually any good though. Arguably it’s a subjective question but I’ll try and stay neutral in my answer.
Whilst some would class the production as raw others would call it scrappy. Some would say the choppy rhythms are hypnotic at times; others may be put off by the lack of flow. Some would empathise with the emotion fuelled and almost tortured sounding vocals; others would dismiss it as bad screaming hiding even worse singing abilities. Overall, there’s nothing really new or exciting on display within these three tracks to set my heart racing, however I wouldn’t say I was flat-lining either; RESONATE are capable of holding attention.
Unless RESONATE have an exceptional live show I can’t really see them bursting onto the forefront of national scene in the foreseeable future based on the strength of this release. It may sound harsh but in honesty you hear bands playing this sort of music to this sort of standard every day and it’s really lost any sort of sharp edge it had a while back and just sounds complacent and mediocre. Their youth however may be their best tool; they’re still young and therefore capable of developing individually as musicians and as a band. As a result, I won’t write them off just yet; there is potential here.
Mike
www.resonateonline.co.uk