During the first few spins of the debut album from Leviathan's Choir, it's easy to dismiss this Midwestern quartet as a dark group of depressed young people simply attempting to mimic their influences - who must most notably include Nirvana, Alice in Chains, Tool and Rush. After all, lead vocalist Doug Balmes has one of those alternative-grunge voices that bridges Kurt Cobain and Layne Staley, and the music on Breach is down-tuned at least a half-step to shoot ominous chunks of angst from your speakers. But, boy, do those chunks ever sound lethal, as the renowned Gary Tanin, who has worked with members of Genesis and the Violent Femmes, produced Breach.
After a few more spins, though, Leviathan's Choir begins to evolve, sounding both retro and modern at the same time, and almost living up to the first word in its name and the image that dominates Breach's cover art - a mammoth-sized ancient sea creature. You'll hear intricate guitar work inserted into the middle of the verses on "Without Sin," an undeniable groove that propels "I'm Right" straight into your brain and melancholy instrumental passages in "Rakes and Bushes" that mesmerize before fading into rapid half-sung/half-spoken vocal dynamics. Lyrics about salvation and conquest also lift Breach out of the angst pit.
It's growing on me …
Track Listing:
1) Aetaluta
2) Antifreeze
3) Without Sin
4) Fallen Brothers
5) I'm Right
6) 541/8
7) Song #2
8) Rakes and Bushes
9) I Am
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