If you’re looking for a band in the ascendancy look no further than Dead Swans. Over the past couple of years the quintet has played and toured with the likes of Gallows, Alexisonfire, Cancer Bats and This Is Hell. A debut EP, ‘Southern Blue’ on Thirty Days of Night Records, was followed by a split 7” with the mind-numbingly intricate Architects, all of which was enough to get noticed by Bridge Nine, undoubtedly one of the premier labels in the hardcore scene. ‘Sleepwalkers’ is the debut album that should see the band’s stock rise.
In a live setting Dead Swans play a gritty, brash and forceful brand of hardcore that’s seeped in ferociousness. It’s the same feeling that oozed through on the debut E.P. ‘Sleepwalkers’ though is a much more polished affair, brimming with a pristine you might not expect of the genre. Does the take any of the edge off? Maybe a little, but it’s a fair swap as it means some decent musicianship gets to shine through.
The record falls very much on the metal side of the hardcore fence. This isn’t D.C. hardcore; it’s much more intricate and moody. “So Far You’ve Only Made Things Worse” sounds as close to Chimaira (six years ago, at least) as it does Minor Threat. The melodic “20.07.07” recalls Poison the Well in its very specific and methodical approach, guitar laden, bass hungry and intensely fast. “Winter Overture” and the tail end of “Ivy Archway” even make for calmingly atmospheric moments, overtures indeed. Without a doubt this is a musician’s record, a trait that isn’t always the case within the genre.
Where ‘Sleepwalkers’ comes up short is in the diversity stakes. Whilst being very well structured a lot of the record comes across as a little too similar. For anybody but the hardened hardcore fan this is going to sound like one or two songs replayed over. It’s a limitation that means the band won’t impress all that many people from outside of the scene but will erupt within it. If anything, Dead Swans will likely get that ‘band’s band’ moniker with this album.
In short, ‘Sleepwalkers’ is musically impressive, more sensitive than and not nearly as brutal as one might expect, but will prove slightly repetitive to the untrained ear.
Alex