TMHM: Stage Names

This is something that I often do get to do. Review a band from my home province of Saskatchewan. The band is TMHM (The Man And His Machine) and the album is Stage Names, their first full length release after a series of E.P.s, consisting of both live and studio material. The Band members are Ben Riabko, Dylan Nash, Jon Brown and Jeremy Marcia.

That said, it is unfortunate I dislike what I'm hearing. Musically the band is very intense and the tunes have a 'live' and sporadic feel. After all, the album was recorded in just four days at Rain City Studios, Vancouver, British Columbia. Pounding drums and pummeling guitar riffs played with reckless abandon is pretty much what's on offer. That's not the problem. However, the vocals are another story. The screaming and shouting style just doesn't do anything for me and the lack of discernible vocal melodies is a real deal breaker. The first track "Bad Luck In Belleville" is pretty much what you can expect; intense riffs and shouted vocals. The short "Toxic Mix" is a little more imaginative with its use of reverb and feedback but again the vocals ruin it. And so it goes throughout the disc. If an aggressively raw sound floats your boat and you enjoy tuneless vocals by all means check this one out. As for me, I will have to pass. Sorry guys.

Track Listing:
1. Bad Luck In Belleville (3:42)
2. Toxic Mix (1:47)
3. 18 oz (3:04)
4. Threadcounts (2:17)
5. Stage Names (3:35)
6. Better Half (2:25)
7. Hodgepodge (3:22)
8. Good Luck In Gracetown (3:33)

Added: September 12th 2016
Reviewer: Jon Neudorf
Score:
Related Link: Band's Facebook Page
Hits: 1230
Language: english

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