Enemymine - The Ice in Me
(Up)
Anyway, heavy metal sucks right? Or does it? No. Well, yes, but
sometimes no. godheadSilo were probably the first real HEAVY rock I
appreciated. The band sounded so heavy and thick, with only one
bass and a drummer, that they bowled me over. After their album Share the Fantasy
on Subpop, they broke up. The bassist, Mike Kunka took a couple of
years off before starting his new band, Enemymine. Their first release
was an EP on K Records. It turned a lot of heads due to Zak Sally's
(bassist of Low) appearance on the EP. Many of those not deterred by
the heavy rock (it actually has its un-metal moments as well) paid close
attention to the captivating EP. However, Zak was only in it for the
recording, and they were left to find a new bassist.
So, their new album, The Ice in Me has been released by Up Records and
is the band's first recording with their new bassist (Ryan, from Some Velvet Sidewalk).
The way Mike writes his lead bass parts has really evolved and takes full
advantage of the freedom afforded by having another bass guitar backing
him up. There are moments when Mike's bass sounds nothing like a bass
and exactly like a guitar. All of the elements of the songs are more
immediate and straight ahead than godheadSilo, from the playing to the
recording to the vocals.
"Day One" starts off the album with a punch, combining palm-muted bass
and Mike's distinct vocal style for a hard hitting opener. There is a
somewhat laid back song called "Man Enough" which shows up twice on the
album. It sounds the same both times, the only difference is that one is
longer than the other (0:26 and 1:04). Another short (1:04) song,
"Calendar" breaks up the album at the halfway point, though this
interlude is much more menacing, sounding as if it's about to break into
an explosive rock at any moment; it serves as a great way to keep the
album from becoming monotonous.
Background loops and odd structuring are
what gives The Ice in Me it's distinctive character. Songs like "Setting the
Traps" and "Day One" take godheadSilo's formula and make it easier to
enjoy and get into by making it easier to catch on to what they're trying
to achieve. Aside from the song "Trcr" from their first EP (which is
quite easily the greatest rock song EVER), The Ice in Me shows
Enemymine to be one of the bands who hold the future of rock in their
hands.
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