East West

Item: The Light in Guinevere's Garden
Author: Doug Van Pelt

The Light in Guinevere's Garden

(2001)

Reviewed by Doug Van Pelt

Discogs YouTube

Label Floodgate Records / Rocketown RecordsHM Magazine #90July/August 2001

alternative rock nu metal rapcore

I've been a fan of this band since I first heard them a few years ago. The exciting thing about East West is that they are constantly living up to their potential and improving their sound. This is especially cool when considering that the same producer, Bob Burch, has been working with them as a team since the beginning. While they flirt with 'rapcore,' this is not a complete co-option of styles. You've got to appreciate the chaos of bands like Coal Chamber, Korn, and Training For Utopia, and that is what makes a band like this credible. If, when they do throw the switch to aggro thrashing, does it make you feel like you're getting sonically beat up? Does it fire you up for war? Does it build up all that energy and release it? If so, then you're credible. If you want to stand apart, get to this point first, and then add something different from there. East West has done this.

What's weird, and what I don't really like just yet (it might grow on me), are the drastic departures of "She Cries" and "Superstar." I hear The Prayerchain and Foo Fighters being an influence. I like both of those bands, but they sound out of place here. Give me the nu-metal sounds of 50% of the rest of the album!

The lead-off track, "Wake," does just that to the casual listener. It romps around with heavy low-end, a la Suicidal or Primus, the screamed vocals add an element of power, and the subtle guitar leads give it some trippy atmosphere. "Song X," which appeared on one of our Hard Music Samplers a year ago, probably has the most rap delivery on the album, but it's strong. "Nephesh," the third track, really sets the pace for these ears. The vocal harmonies provide dynamics with the "someone shut off the electricity, because I'm about to die" screaming of the counter-verses. The element that keeps it all together, which I hinted at before, is the tightness and width of the rhythm section.

"Closure" adds some real singing throughout the song, sounding not too unlike the radio-friendly Nickelback. While record companies may prefer this diversity in sound for a "broadened appeal," I'm a bit confused. I just want to get blasted by this band's power. For those who haven't heard East West yet, however, the introduction will be an enjoyable experience.