Remember when The Offspring's second major label album came out? You could still tell it was them, but the music sounded like modern day arena rock. I liken Sagoh's sophomore album to that one. You can hear the tough-guy vocals and muscled riffing and snappy drumming, but there's an anthem there begging to break out. Call 'em nu-post-punk-metal or something, 'cuz they glue urgent pop melodies with an almost classic metal guitar attack and modern rock vocals a la Grammatrain meets Brandtson meets Foo Fighters. Confused? I like it.
Ever have one of those albums that you wish you could turn up louder, but it seems the volume didn't make the sound bigger or fuller, just louder in a monotone way? That's what I'm experiencing with Then I Corrupt Youth. I think the low-end isn't separated far enough from the mids, but what do I know? I just wish I could crank it for all my neighbors to hear! When I take out the bass-boost on my system here it sounds much better.
Sonic criticism aside, this album takes a musical menu with a wide variety and somehow presents it in a cohesive manner that identifies the band without sounding too schizophrenic. Beauty and power get married here in a way that takes the dynamics of good emo and the muscle of rock and roll to create something fresh. Lyrically, the band shows a lot of thought, with songs like "The Regrettable Paris," "Solace," and "The Consistency Of Mercury."
Similar sounding releases
2002Shmunks For YouI Can't Talk to the Walls Because They're Yelling At Me
1999Sick of ChangeIn Our Time of Need
2001Pinhead CircusThe Black Power of Romance
2005Strike AnywhereTo Live in Discontent
2005Boy Sets FireBefore the Eulogy
2001The BlamedIsolated Incident
