This CD itself is a testament to the fact that good packaging can sell CD’s. As I received it in a pile of demo’s and other varied releases, I very much doubt I would have given it the attention I did had the artwork not looked so damn fantastic. At first I thought it was a self released E.P, which would have been even more impressive, but after some digging around, it seems that it has distributed by Alaska Recordings, although you wouldn’t guess by the total lack of a mention in the liner notes. Nevertheless, the wonderful artwork and semi clear CD (A nice touch!) certainly made me take notice as it’s been in and out of my stereo for the last couple of weeks.
Transgression are a young band hailing from New Jersey and have spectacularly managed to notch up two UK tours under their belts, despite having an average age of 18. While they recently headlined, ably supported by Aconite Thrill and Days In December, their most high profile gigs must have been supporting Funeral For A Friend and Waterdown at the turn of the year. While you can sort of see the logic in putting them on this tour, they share neither the nu metal leanings of latter day Waterdown or the mainstream rock element of Funeral For A Friend. Instead they play a Poison The Well-esque blend of brutal riffs, guttural screams, entwined with more melodic moments. Unfortunately, the melodic moments do tend to pull them down a notch as the vocalists range is somewhat limited and sounds strained and at at times, inaudible.
Kicking off with ‘Dismal Grey’, probably the best track on the E.P, brings to mind Time In Malta or, as previously mentioned, Poison The Well. The song never manages to rise above mid pace and despite the bone crunching riffs, fails to make a lasting impression. While it is a good track, it just lacks that extra bite to make it a great track. Therein lies the problem with Transgression. They are a good band, and they are clearly competent musicians. The screaming vocals are very impressive compared to the frankly pathetic offerings displayed by many bands these days, but they are less than the sum of their parts. It is only really the intro’s to the tracks that set them apart, ‘Burning the Skyline‘ with a brooding bass line and drum roll, ‘Disappointment is My Crown’ at full speed ahead and ‘Until Forever Dies’ with a swaggering melodic opening, yet again let down by the weakness of the singing. After listening to the four tracks consecutively for a length of time, it becomes hard to distinguish where one song ends and another begins.
If you like the Poison The Well approach to hardcore, the stop start, aggression the melody structures and the guttural screaming, then you may well enjoy this. For me, it lacks that certain something that sets it apart from the crowd. Once Transgression get the knack of writing brutal but individual songs, they could go very far indeed.
Ross