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Searching For Calm: Celestial greetings

17/11/10 || BigBoi

All the descriptions I found of this band likened them to such acts as Converge, The Dillinger Escape Plan and The Mars Volta. While only considering myself an actual fan of TMV, I’m well aware of the others’ reputations among the metal community, despite having not actually heard much of them. “This is the music that escapes simple divisions and constraints of a particular genre,” reads their bio… Well, they’re certainly not wasting any time sitting themselves up on the pedestal with the big leaguers. These worn out comparisons and hype made me a bit skeptical from the get go, but alas, I put my preconceived notions aside and delved into “Celestial Greetings” with an open mind. I mean, they are from Poland…

Naturally, I expected an eclectic clusterfuck of genre mish-mashing to be found in Searching For Calm’s sophomore effort. After all, that is how most bands attempt to “escape genre constraints” right? “cough.” Well boy was I disappointed… err… surprised? I actually found very little of what I’d originally imagined, their music being rather subdued and simplistic in composition. And I’l be damned, the formula actually works for them. I really don’t see much validity in most of the comparisons made, except for maybe The Mars Volta one. If anybody knows TMV’s background, Searching For Calm is more akin to their previous band At The Drive-In, an experimental punk/hardcore group active around the late 90’s. I actually happen to be a closet homo for that bunch as well (man I know my shit!), so saying that “Celestial Greetings” has lots in common with the now defunct outfit is pretty accurate.

From a musical standpoint, “Celestial Greetings” is an alternative album at heart. Not a whole lotta’ metal here folks, unless you cling to the few heavier drum segments scattered about. The guitars are lightly distorted most of the time, transitioning seamlessly between angsty chord progressions and airy, calmer passages. The band as a whole manages to pull off this soft/loud contrast quite well I must say, considering this seems like a mandatory music rule these days (raise your hands Opeth fallators), despite not being metal. Singer/guitarist Michał Maślak treats us to an above average performance as far as this style of music goes. His vocals bring to mind a sane version of Mike Patton, keeping things more towards the passive side than his counterpart’s demented, “i’mgonnarapeyathenkillya” style crooning. I get early career Cedric Bixler vibes as well (TMV/At The Drive-In). Or so your dumbasses can understand, “DUH VOKULLZ IS GOOOOD.”

Sometimes things can get somewhat poppy and upbeat for my tastes (see “once in a lifetime”), which is a tad obnoxious, but luckily isn’t overbearing. Having said that, this shit seems like something I would have killed to get my grubby hands on in middle school. It’s got a nostalgic 90’s vibe that I find myself really digging. These Polish sausages do things with style in their little niche, managing to rise above the mountain of fecal matter that is most indie/alternative/punk. Anyone seeking relent from the daily pummeling of metal, or in my case, a stroll down memory lane, then look no further than “Celestial Greetings.” Well done comrades, my fortune cookie predicts good things in your future.

8,5

Information
Released: 2010
Label: Mystic Productions
Website: Searching For Calm MySpace
Band
Michał Maślak: vocals, guitar
Michał Augustyn: guitar
Piotr Gruenpeter: bass
Jakub Basek: bass
Bartosz Lichołap: drums

Tracklist
01. Screens
02. The fall
03. Hollow
04. Transformation
05. The eyes
06. Once in a lifetime
07. Airs and graces
08. Celestial
09. Splendid view
10. Sorcerer
11. Consensus

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