As a purveyor of the truth, I must in all integrity strive to bestow not only the just boot of derision but also the mantle of credit whenever and wherever both may be due. And while derision may be more fun and at times more satisfying, all of my vitriolic diatribes against the flotsam and jetsam of the world would be rendered meaningless if I was incapable of giving deserved praise. That being said, I have to say that despite my current (and might I add quite appropriate) cynicism toward hardcore, the members of Jude the Obscure know what they're doing. They can whip up hammer-on induced tornados and bring the demi-gods of rhythm to their feet with blast beat tidal waves. And in this maelstrom they are not the Locust. They do not randomly hit notes, or make up chords based on games of yahtzee, or spend more time coming up with fourteen word song titles than writing actual music. They can rock.
They also display a capable hand in the practice of mood-setting which so many bands engage in these days. The Coldest Winter works track by track, but contains even more umph if you listen to it all at once. It's then that the soundclips, stretches of ethereal keyboard, and feedback work in full conjunction with the album's strange instrumentals "Seven Steps Remix" and the closing "Golem Anomaly". Even more of this musical dimming of the lights and creation of a palpable atmosphere would have worked in the band's favor. As it is our imaginations' appetites are whet just enough to notice the potential that gets drowned out by the music.
And now to that music. Like I said it's capable. But in hardcore you've gotta be more than capable these days. You have to be exceptionally fresh and creative, or really catchy, or have another ace up your sleeve like our theme example band, the Locust, who wear German schoolboy outfits and tights over their heads. The Jude boys are sounding pretty dang close to about fifteen other bands on this album. The beats are tight. I've even heard them described as "like an assault rifle." The drummer is no Ringo. But he's no Jesse Smith. He's no Chris Pennie. He's no Ben Koller. These drums don't have the spark, nor do the guitar parts, the harmonizations of which make me think of a bored Viking slaying an ox. Jude the Obscure have the Scandinavian black metal thing going on in the vein of Extol, with a more dissonant but still noticeably harmonized twin guitar attack.
The breakdowns are good, being built around what is at most points a satisfyingly traditional 3:4 or 4:4 time structure. The type of breakdown that lets you put your hair down and thrash away, unlike the Dillinger Escape Plan whose breakdowns seem to be written in a time signature that only that specific group of guys could ever know and only because they made a computer model of it and then practiced it for eight hours together every day for a month. Jude the O keep things lively and creative but also let you get in touch with your inner metronome which is always fun.
In closing, although the vocals are utterly standard, and their music lacks the light which might draw a true following, these guys show a shred of potential which with courage and ingenuity might be built upon. As of now, save your purchase power for coming releases.
2/4
