Everyone has a type. Whether it’s a type of food (Chinese) or a type of the opposite sex (brunette), everyone has specific criteria. Equal Vision has a specific type of band. You know, the kind that incorporates melody and aggression into somewhat technical music. Damiera, Circa Survive, early Coheed and Cambria, and the list continues with Closure In Moscow.
The Australian quintet is crisp; releasing melody at a quick pace. The band rarely takes their foot off the gas pedal, as opening tracks “Kissing Cousins” and “Reindeer Age” feature riffing that needles in and out, knitting tightly with Chris De Cinque’s high tenor. In fact, it’s fairly obvious that De Cinque patterns his vocals similar to Cedric Bixler of The Mars Volta. Not that it’s a bad thing, as his voice soars throughout each track.
“Sweet#hart” cuts like a buzzsaw, as De Cinque’s vocals mesh nicely with the needling riffs that come from guitarists Mansur Zennelli and Michael Barrett. “Vanguard” brings the intensity throughout, as De Cinque’s vocals roar right through while Zennelli and Barrett dictate the pace. But Closure In Moscow isn’t all about fast and heavy, as First Temple gets a tempo change in the forum of “I’m A Ghost Of Twilight.” The deep and dark undertone sets the vibe, while the booming chorus ignites the track.
The chilling “Permafrost” leads nicely into energetic “Deluge,” which brings the album back to its break-neck pace. “Had To Put It In The Soil” finishes First Temple with some more jazzy riffs in a mid-tempo atmosphere, leaving the listener with the appetite to hit repeat.
First Temple is one of the best debut albums of 2009 and a must-own. Closure In Moscow contains just the right amount of aggression and melody to keep fans of different genres satisfied. The only downfall is how similar this sounds to other bands in the scene, as well as some songs blending together. But the Aussie quintet will be setting stages a blaze in the next few years, as First Temple is sure to become a scene staple in 2009.