Album Review: Narrows – New Distances

in Albums by xSelvinx — January 8, 2010 at 7:54 am | 1 comment

Album Review:
Narrows
New Distances

*And The Most Anticipated Debut LP Nod Goes To…*

With members whose credentials include the likes of vocals from Botch (Dave Verellen), guitar from These Arms are Snakes (Ryan Frederiksen), and bass from Over My Dead Body/Some Girls (Rob Moran), Narrows features one of the most in-depth band rosters for 2009. Although Narrows set the bar insatiably high for themselves due to their previous accomplishments, they’ve successfully been able to remove themselves from the shadows of their past achievements and foster a sound that, in fact, surpasses the entire pallet of their intensive background – minus Botch, of course.

New Distances is a notably diverse post-hardcore release as Narrows draw from hardcore, math, punk, metal, and even minimalist schools of thought to create a truly unique, one-of-a-kind hybrid.  In case you’re saying to yourself that all bands incorporate these sounds now-a-days, that is not the case, you’re probably just listening to shitty break-it-down-now metuhl. Narrows are on the ball with New Distances as it’s brimming with tight structures, memorable and catchy riffs, and intricate interludes laced with sublime melodies.

Things start up nice and fast on New Distances with ‘Chambered’, a dynamic and driving opener with groovy as fuck guitar work, throaty vocals, punchy drumming, and swirling basslines. New Distances‘ second track, ‘Sea Witch’, keeps up the all out lively and energetic songwriting with spiraling guitar riffs, solid punk beats, and song structures that are noticeably more chaotic with a heavier tone than that of ‘Chambered’.

The first of New Distances‘ minimalist interludes, ‘A Restoration Effort’, is next after ‘Sea Witch’ and gives the listener some much needed breathing space and some cooling refreshment from Narrows’ surprisingly sharp auditory assault and battery. The album’s intensity picks back up with ‘I Give You Six Months’ and sees bassist Rob Moran carrying the melody duties for the majority of the track before it effortlessly free falls back down for another brief interlude.

Track six, ‘Newly Restored’, is New Distances‘ moodiest track and showcases a significantly pissed off Narrows that sounds as irritable and temper-mental as a bull locked in a room full of Mexicans dressed only in red. New Distances takes a 180 degree turn with its next number, ‘Gypsy Kids’, as the tune proves to be the bounciest and most-spirited track, bursting with triumphant grab-the-microphone vocals and tons of two-step.

However, ‘Gypsy Kids’ vivaciousness only lasts for a brief three minutes as Narrows slow things down considerably and New Distances dives into its sludgiest song, ‘The Fourragere’. A brief sample of Narrows in the studio starts off ‘The Fourragere’ and leads into the barest riff off of New Distances. After ‘The Fourragere’, Narrows close things out with ‘Marquis Light’, the final and calmest interlude off of their debut LP.

Narrows have done an impeccable job at performing under the substantial pressure of being one of the most celebrated super groups of this decade. New Distances showcases nine of this year’s funnest and freshest tracks, while still managing to keep things somewhat nostalgic as well. With two stellar releases under their belt and more touring plans underway, it looks like Narrows have no plans of slowing down and they’re far from just a one-trick pony. To put it simply kids, the best is yet to come.

Track Listing:
01. Chambered
02. Sea Witch
03. A Restoration Effort
04. I Give You Six Months
05. Changing Clothes
06. Newly Restored
07. Gypsy Kids
08. The Fourragere
09. Marquis Lights

Favourite Song: Gypsy Kids

Narrows @ Myspace.com

Tags: Botch Narrows New Distances Over My Dead Body Some Girls These Arms Are Snakes