### Junius: Junius

#### 26/11/12 || The Duff

I reviewed Junius’ “The Martyrdom of a Catastrophist” some years or so ago, honestly one of my favourite albums from a band I’d never have thought to discover, the style of music far more uplifting than I’m comfortable with because I don’t usually get an erection when a man is singing to me.

When the review was posted, forumer Lumberjack said he had this self-titled, and that it was okay; such made me delay pursuing Junius’ prior record, not wanting to be let down as I figured they wouldn’t have mastered their sound to the degree of “Martyrdom…”; turns out that, maybe not as attuned, the self-titled is still comprising of some absolutely stellar music in much the same style as its immediate successor.

So what we got is post-rock meets vocals from The Cure (and occasionally music from The Cure, as with track “A Word Could Kill Her”); the music itself isn’t groundbreaking, it soars and gives way and enraptures in true Isis-fashion, it’s clear the guys are no slouches when it comes to such a style of music, but in terms of breaking new ground what makes Junius stand out from the crowd are indeed the vocals of Joseph E. Martinez, a reminiscence of The Cure.

Aside from that, this record is to “Martyrdom…” what “Katatonia’s “Tonight’s Decision” is to “Last Fair Deal Gone Down”. Enjoy if you like post-rock of the Mogwai, soundscape variety but in song, bitesize or friendlier arrangement.

- Information
- Released: 2007
- Label: Make My Day Records
- Website: www.juniusmusic.com
- Band
- Joseph E. Martinez: guitars, vocals
- Michael Repasch-Nieves: guitars
- Dave Soucy: bass (tracks 1-5)
- Kieffer Infantino: bass (tracks 6-11)
- Dana Filloon: drums

- Tracklist
- 01. [Elan Vital]
- 02. Hiding Knives
- 03. From the Isle of the Blessed
- 04. [Elan Fatale]
- 05. Forcing out the Silence
- 06. [The Annunciation]
- 07. Blood Is Bright
- 08. A Word Could Kill Her
- 09. In the Hearts of Titans
- 10. At the Age of Decay