Release date: 2007,
By: Elvira Visser
Formed back in 2003, Break of Reality is an American cello-rock band, founded
by freshmen at The Eastman School of Musicwhich city, Rochester, New York. In
2007 all band members graduated from this school. The founding members are:
Patrick Laird, Erin Keesecker and Chris Thibdeau. At the time of formation the
band consisted of four cellists, in 2004 their drummer Ivan Trevino joined the
band.
One of their influences is Apocalyptica, the band who introduced celli into
rock music. A comparison between bands is easily made because there aren’t many
bands like them around but they also have many other similarities. Musically
schooled backgrounds of the members and both bands started out without drums.
Although the band has many similarities with Apocalyptica they do create their
own sound. In 2004 the band released their first album “Voiceless”
and released their second album “The Sound Between” in 2006, followed
by a bonus version with five acoustic songs.
“The Sound Between” is a good name that describes the band. You can
see this as the sound between classical music and rock. Their compositions are
varied. Sometimes you can hear a bit more of a classical influence or approach
and the other song is pure rock. The drums definitely add to the rock-ish sound.
The band does not need distortion on guitars to create that metal/rock sound,
they rather use their deep cello sounds which can be overwhelming at some points.
“Parabolic Cosmos” is one of those songs that start with a classic
touch but it changes, to show the deep almost moaning sound of the cello. When
the track is at its darkest point, with some distortion added to the cello,
it bursts out in some rock explosion. The drums join in and you just need to
sit back and let it surprise you.
Another track that brings you some metal is “Sore Arms”. They must
have had sore arms while recording this. The songs starts out with some deep,
slow cello sound joined by some percussion, which sounds quite jovial yet melancholic
but then there is this outburst of drums, followed by raging cellos which takes
it to an extreme level, but still some beautiful arrangement keeps shining that
leads you through the darkness of the metal.
A funny thing on this album is the 30 seconds in the middle, it is called “Black
Noise”. There is not much noise there but it builds up this great feeling
of a climax soon to come, but it doesn’t. It leaves you with the next track.
But is is okay, they make it up to you with tracks like “Scarred by Duty”
and “Rise”.
Break of Reality is a great band that is working on their future. They are
ready to rock the stage in America. I really hope things will work out for this
band. They are talented musicians, they really know how to keep the connection
between classical cello music and the rougher edges of rock and metal. “The
Sound Between” is definitely an album you need to hear when you like the
sounds of cellos going to the extreme
DISC 1 1 Beyond Recourse 2 Parablic cosmos 3 Broken 4 Sore Arms 5 Circles 6 Black Noise 7 A blind Purpose 8 Scarred by Duty 9 Jade 10 Rise 11 Solid GroundDISC 2 1 Circles 2 A Blind Purpose 3 Parabolic Cosmos 4 Sore Arms 5 Solid Ground |
Links:
More articles
Jerry Cantrell – I Want Blood
Tidal Shock – Riffs of Ha
Slim Cessna’s Auto Club – Kinnery of Lupercalia; Buell Legion