The Fall of Troy are geniuses.
The rest of us are talented at best.
-Friedrich Engels
For those of you who know what F.C.P.S.I.T.S.G.E.P.G.E.P.G.E.P. stands for, you don't need to read this. You probably bought this
album on presale and got the free T-shirt. For those of you who don't know what it stands for, but clicked on the link to this review anyway, I'm still not going to tell you what it stands for because Robby likes to keep these reviews PG. But, I will educate you on why you should invest all your life savings in The Fall of Troy stocks. If they had stocks, I would.
The first time I listened to TFOT, it was 1 a.m. and I was in bed. Alone. But anyway all I can say is I was so blown away I had to
get up and dance. Good thing I was alone, because it probably looked like I was having a seizure. That's just one of the many effects of listening to this album.
The Fall of Troy is a trio of not-even-20-year-old guys with theee most proficient understanding of their instruments and most amazing ability to jam. Thomas Erak is perhaps the best singer/guitarist in the music scene today. Before Doppelganger, they released a self-produced, one-take self-titled album. Also amazing, but vocals on the new album are way better. They also made a demo that I've never heard. But Doppelganger is a re-recording of four songs from the old album, three from the demo, and also introduces four new songs.
Take the talent and musicality from the first album, add higher digital and production quality, subtract none of the energy, and add another year of maturity. This is the formula for Doppelganger. Words can't begin to describe the virtuosity of every song on the album, so I'm not even going to try. The guitar and bass lines are more complicated than any other bands' that don't involve John Petrucci, and the drumming is insanely mind-melting.
However, at the same time, no one gets lost in the complication. A lot of people accuse Franz Liszt and Dream Theater of being so ridiculously complicated, they're not even making music (the "empty virtuoso" syndrome). It's like they're just showing off how frickin' better they are than you at your instrument. The Fall of Troy is nothing like that. While watching them live does make me want to practice a lot more, they also have very traceable and incredible melodic elements. The band really wants you to be part of the music. One time they did a show in San Jose and complained that the kids here never dance. It was really a shame, because The Fall of Troy either put the virtuosity into musicality, or musicality into virtuosity. Yes, there is a difference, and no other band can do it like they can.
So what you get, besides what I listed above, in this album is breakneck heavy and fast rock with hardcore, screamo, and metal influences. Epileptics beware. Usually I would list a few bands that could relate to the band I'm reviewing. Not gonna happen today, because The Fall of Troy just transcends. That's all I can say. Buy this CD, support this little Equal Visions band, make them thankful they came to your town and played a show. And that means you, San Jose!
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C.L. '05 |
