Ken Mode Reprisal
Escape Artist Records EA32 July 25th, 2006
By Jason Jordan
Canadas Ken Mode get around, it seems, considering J. Matthewson (vocals, guitar), S. Matthewson (drums), and Johnston (live bass) also make up Hide Your Daughters. As if hes not busy enough, Johnston though absent from their sophomore outing Reprisal plays in Electro Quarterstaff, too. The follow-up to Mongrel is an interesting breed simply because it unites the general sounds of Intronaut, the technicality and rhythms of Mastodon, and the sludgy bits and manipulated vocals of Capricorns the result being a 50-minute record that is pretty okay.
Lamentably, however, the formula above is better on paper. Ken Mode arent nearly as gratifying as any of the aforementioned groups due to a lack of finesse, or perhaps the ability to harness it. The cover art depicts an untamed animal doing its thing, and it is fitting imagery for Reprisal, which avoids sloppiness yet feels less than tight. Drummer S. Matthewson is often all over the drumkit, while J. Matthewson is likewise all over the fretboard, and the similarities to Mastodon pop up quite regularly in Proditio, The Musk Ox, and Looks Like a Failure. Others such as The Hammer Party and I Simply Am Not There will recall Intronaut at their dirtiest, plus aficionados of Kittens (is this thing on?) will recognize Tiger Comet for obvious reasons.
The bands in the first paragraph have all released far superior records, so the odds of besting their peers were against Ken Mode from the start. Still, Reprisal is a lengthy, decent effort that may help tide some of you over until the wave of new releases hits in August and September.
6/10
UMs Review Rating Scale
Official Ken Mode Website
Official Escape Artist Records Website
Escape Artist Records EA32 July 25th, 2006
By Jason Jordan
Canadas Ken Mode get around, it seems, considering J. Matthewson (vocals, guitar), S. Matthewson (drums), and Johnston (live bass) also make up Hide Your Daughters. As if hes not busy enough, Johnston though absent from their sophomore outing Reprisal plays in Electro Quarterstaff, too. The follow-up to Mongrel is an interesting breed simply because it unites the general sounds of Intronaut, the technicality and rhythms of Mastodon, and the sludgy bits and manipulated vocals of Capricorns the result being a 50-minute record that is pretty okay.
Lamentably, however, the formula above is better on paper. Ken Mode arent nearly as gratifying as any of the aforementioned groups due to a lack of finesse, or perhaps the ability to harness it. The cover art depicts an untamed animal doing its thing, and it is fitting imagery for Reprisal, which avoids sloppiness yet feels less than tight. Drummer S. Matthewson is often all over the drumkit, while J. Matthewson is likewise all over the fretboard, and the similarities to Mastodon pop up quite regularly in Proditio, The Musk Ox, and Looks Like a Failure. Others such as The Hammer Party and I Simply Am Not There will recall Intronaut at their dirtiest, plus aficionados of Kittens (is this thing on?) will recognize Tiger Comet for obvious reasons.
The bands in the first paragraph have all released far superior records, so the odds of besting their peers were against Ken Mode from the start. Still, Reprisal is a lengthy, decent effort that may help tide some of you over until the wave of new releases hits in August and September.
6/10
UMs Review Rating Scale
Official Ken Mode Website
Official Escape Artist Records Website
