“Hell isn’t hot enough.”
156/Silence are a band that I was almost completely unfamiliar with prior to my endeavor into their latest project, Narrative. I had heard exceptional things about them and I thought they had an intriguing name, so I decided to give the album a go. With fresh ears and an open mind, I entered the world of Narrative with prospect and curiosity. 156/Silence, a band under the robust wings of Sharptone Records, the label holding some of the best bands in the wider heavy music scene, was certainly dropping a record akin to their peers. By and large, this is true.
Already intrigued by just the introductory sound effects of “A Past Embrace” and the slurred spoken word vocals over repeating guitar riffs, I was prepared for its violent launch. The group effectively utilize the album’s opening track to set the tone for the album, pulling back once more before its volatile breakdown of an outro. This cut is not only the perfect preface for Narrative, but executes its purpose as a single, not only capturing my attention, but further doing so with ease.
Flowing straight into “The Rodents Race” flawlessly with Kyle O’Connell and Lukas Booker’s domineering drum and bass fills, listeners are met with one of the catchiest chugging riffs to come from the second half of the year. Connecting both of these tracks is Jack Murray’s seared and tortured vocal style, surely delivering an almost overwhelming sense of emotion to anyone who will listen. While it’s almost an expectation for these vocals to somewhat correspond throughout the whole project, this proves to be a double edged sword while advancing towards the end.
While this may come down to personal preference, I was so distracted on my first listen with the fact that the vocal variation was limited to mumbled speaking and monotonous screaming, that I just couldn’t thoroughly enjoy all the other elements that Narrative is composed of. That’s not to say that they are necessarily bad at all, because they’re actually quite well executed in reality. The most prevalent issue regarding the vocals, however, is the lack of dynamics integrated into any of the pieces. There is nothing all too fascinating in the performance to truly elevate the uniqueness and charm of this record. The once passionate, harsh vocals that Murray presents falter as the record progresses, and work to bolster the continually disappointing sense of indistinction across even some of the strongest cuts across Narrative.
That does not take away from the fact that there are some moments that piqued my interest, particularly in the album’s unique soundscaping. The eccentric dial up sounding noises scattered on “If Pleasure’s Gone”, or the intergalactic intermission at around fifty seconds into “Tell The Reason” provide moments where the tracks across Narrative truly possess their own identity through the use of clever sound design. Further, I feel as though each song across the LP is improved when looked at in isolation, rather than within the context of the project as a whole, which is a strange attribute for an extended project to have, but the reality of the situation. As an entire work, Narrative needs more dimension, but broken down, the bones of an incredible project are pronounced.
In a last-minute twist, too, closer “Live To See A Darker Day” defies every expectation that the album has set its listeners up for thus far. Finally, a new vocal style; a new feeling; uncharted territory. The slow motion pace of the first minute and a half of this song created the sonic tension that this LP needed before exploding once again. That tension alone breathed new life into Murray’s familiar screaming, allowing it to flush with emotion once again. This cut concludes this cycle once more before wrapping up with one of the best breakdowns on this entire record, followed by complementary keys and a necessary extended moment of silence. It goes without saying that this is my favorite on the record; containing all the necessary elements within to be considered a perfect closer. This track, more than any on Narrative, is a testament to what 156/Silence is actually capable of achieving, including their ability to diversify their sound while sticking to the tone of a project.
That one crucial skill that this band holds is what genuinely excites me for what they’ll decide to produce together next. Honing in on more refined juxtaposition in vocal performances, sections that provide well-crafted conflict in pace, or even odd moments of soundscaping could serve to create dramatic contrast in the way another extended project from this group would really benefit from. I hope that the paradigm set by Narrative’s final track can blossom and incite new opportunities for them, rather than just serve as a closer to this chapter. There may not be something for everyone on Narrative, but for what it is, the metalcore unit have delivered on a record that proves itself worthy of one’s attention, even if it does frequently fall into the dreaded trappings of monotony.
6.5/10
Narrative is available Friday, September 2nd, and you can pre-order it here.