There's a big difference between "talented" math rock bands and "good" math rock bands. You can be as talented as a steaming pile of Dream Theaters and still lack any real, lasting quality as a group. If a math rock band spends all their time figuring out cool time signature changes and drum fills without investing anything in dynamics or melody, the product will be nothing more than well-ordered noise. Now if that's what Ahleuchatistas was going for on this sophomore effort then they should be given a medal. Unfortunately, a large fraction of their potential audience has been alienated in the process.
From their ambiguously political cover art to their music itself, everything about this band is vague. None of the songs stick out, none of the build-ups ever go anywhere, none of the guitar parts even seem planned. Actually that's going a bit far, but this music does have a very improvisational feel to it. The best tracks ("Cracked Teeth," "Lee Kyang Hae") are the ones with the closest semblance to form. The rest would probably work well in a live setting, but not here. If you like complex, ADHD rock, but prefer music that you can actually remember, stick with Roadside Monument.
1.5/4
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