Overmars Affliction, Endocrine
Vertigo
Candlelight Records CDL90 June 28th, 2005
By Jason Jordan
Im going to be glad as hell to get this Overmars release out of the way. So, its terrible right? Actually, not at all. Affliction, Endocrine Vertigo is a knotty album that consistently delves into the experimental, avant-garde subgenre without being too stuffy or narcissistic. This album isnt meant to be a part of the nonchalant background; it demands attention, concentration, and an open mind. Plus, Ive listened to this outing four times, and am just now becoming comfortable enough to review it.
Rivaling Kayo Dot (f.k.a. maudlin of the Well) and split-up In the Woods with their sheer number of members, this seven-piece band are unbelievably adept for being only four years old. The most straightforward pieces found on Affliction, Endocrine Vertigo were predictably placed at the beginning, namely Obsolete and This is Rape. Destroy All Dreamers (a five-part compendium) appears about every other track or thereabouts, and proves to be the most serene offerings of Overmars. Theres a distinct post-rock vibe to certain numbers, but things get much weirder as the following, song title implies when Buccolision / The Mistaken One Part II (Geography is Just a Symptom) is let loose. Piano, random screams, subtle growling, spoken-word French, and guitar effects are all part of the disturbing façade. Fans of fellow Frenchmen, Comity, will find much to like here methinks, because said bands take a slew of differential elements and combine them into one composite.
I cant help but stress the importance of having an open mind when supping on Overmars. Those infatuated with experimental metal will lap this up in an excited fashion, but Affliction, Endocrine Vertigo does take some time to get used to. Leave the aforementioned at arms length for your initial listening session, and youll eventually warm up to it as I did. Wonderful, wonderful full-length debut.
8.5/10
Official Overmars Website
Official Candlelight Records Website
Candlelight Records CDL90 June 28th, 2005
By Jason Jordan
Im going to be glad as hell to get this Overmars release out of the way. So, its terrible right? Actually, not at all. Affliction, Endocrine Vertigo is a knotty album that consistently delves into the experimental, avant-garde subgenre without being too stuffy or narcissistic. This album isnt meant to be a part of the nonchalant background; it demands attention, concentration, and an open mind. Plus, Ive listened to this outing four times, and am just now becoming comfortable enough to review it.
Rivaling Kayo Dot (f.k.a. maudlin of the Well) and split-up In the Woods with their sheer number of members, this seven-piece band are unbelievably adept for being only four years old. The most straightforward pieces found on Affliction, Endocrine Vertigo were predictably placed at the beginning, namely Obsolete and This is Rape. Destroy All Dreamers (a five-part compendium) appears about every other track or thereabouts, and proves to be the most serene offerings of Overmars. Theres a distinct post-rock vibe to certain numbers, but things get much weirder as the following, song title implies when Buccolision / The Mistaken One Part II (Geography is Just a Symptom) is let loose. Piano, random screams, subtle growling, spoken-word French, and guitar effects are all part of the disturbing façade. Fans of fellow Frenchmen, Comity, will find much to like here methinks, because said bands take a slew of differential elements and combine them into one composite.
I cant help but stress the importance of having an open mind when supping on Overmars. Those infatuated with experimental metal will lap this up in an excited fashion, but Affliction, Endocrine Vertigo does take some time to get used to. Leave the aforementioned at arms length for your initial listening session, and youll eventually warm up to it as I did. Wonderful, wonderful full-length debut.
8.5/10
Official Overmars Website
Official Candlelight Records Website
