Review: Banshee- Events Occur In Real Time
(For the video version of this review, check at the bottom of this article).
Banshee are a Hardcore/Metalcore band from upstate New York who have just released their new E.P., Events Occur In Real Time.
The first thing that stood out to me with this band, as the album started, was that the band was drawing upon an earlier version of this music in some ways. I am a huge fan of “Melodeath” and the “Swedish Scene” from the Nineties that included At The Gates, In Flames, Dark Tranquility, and others, but alas, the bands who usually play the style Banshee are lumped in with usually cannibalize the Melodeath scene to an extent that is outright sickening at times. Fortunately, in a refreshing way, Banshee goes back in some ways to bands like Earth Crisis or Vision Of Disorder. It's cool hearing a band that isn't always repeating something Dimebag or Jesper Stromblad invented 25 years ago for a change.
“Terror Bird” is the first song. And features dissonant parts and spastic rhythms that would get any moshpit going in no time. The vocals are free from those boy band/frat boy/pop punk clean parts, and whinier parts that are usually prevalent in the music. The cleaner parts that are sung actually fit the music and have a powerful depth. And this first song has that angry but intense vibe by the end that lacks the annoyance that modern bands often have with this.
The second song, “Keep It Secret, Keep It Safe” continues the pace that almost reminds me of some of the early nineties death metal bands (not grind mind you), but then proceeds with some more breakdowns and cleaner (but definitely not wussy) singing and some more interesting Neurosis/Voivodian chords thrown in for good measure. Time changes and timing changes galore in this song, and its a real treat for that reason.
“Lizard Conditions” has a little bit more of the groove for good measure, and some more clean singing but also the time changes the prior two operate in. It has a cool moody interlude that has some of those spacey chords mentioned earlier.
“Sunflower” almost has this mid nineties groove Napalm Death spastic sounding riff with more of the dissonance piled on. I'm not sure if the band are fans of this, but the chunky dissonance displayed here reminded me of something that would be on the “Fear Emptiness Despair” album.
“Hollywood Burn” follows the pattern of the prior songs, with more sludgy dissonant madness and stop start nearly mathy riffs accelerating the intensity.
“Constable” then ends the release with a riff that almost reminded me if Dead Kennedy's “California Uber Alles” was updated for the 21st century.
Thrashy riffs then ensue as the groove piles back on.
Overall, I really dug Banshee, as I'm a fan of the dissonance and angular, though accessible riffs, and the tolerably intense singing.
Banshee are like a boot stomping over the face of the past 15 years of the commercial garbage polluting their scene of music while at the same time being extremely catchy and accessible, but in a way that has an integrity that would not exactly be safe for the Mall.
You can find more information, including their newest release, from the following sources:
https://open.spotify.com/album/1X0HmjJfup0m5aOnb2yTVX
https://www.facebook.com/BansheeInc/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tGTZWCobKO4
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