Commit Samantha - The Fallen (song review) |self-released, 2016| 4/5 alt-rock
Mixing alternative rock with exotic sounds always gives a song an
intriguing atmosphere. This is exactly the sonic idea behind 'The
Fallen', written by the Bostonian quintet working together as Commit
Samantha. 'The Fallen' is a multi-layered track with many instrumental
parts placed in sync, which are wisely distributed within a less complex
composition. Fans of Godsmack, Tool, Alice in Chains or Stone Temple
Pilots (but not only) should get in gear with this vibe right away.
Initially however, listeners will be gently guided into the song with
said exotic vibe, where the only dominant element is a beat played on a
hand drum. The voice of Kon, which comes next is characterized by a nice
& light, masculine timbre. The vocals are nicely balanced,
distanced and a bit detached in a non-emotional way, except for a few
tense moments where the musicians scream all together.
The deep drums (Mike Stanislovitis), bass (Grant Harris), and guitars
build an advanced structure for the song, exposing the listeners to its
entirety within the next four minutes. The band has two lead guitar
players in the current line-up: Jeff Peck and Mark Gorman; this allows
for a wide variety of guitar riffs performed simultaneously. All
musicians play their respective parts very well. It should be also
mentioned that Commit Samantha invited Casey Young (who programmed &
toured with YES) to layer an additional texture into their song.
The lyrical idea behind the track is an unattached analysis of Biblical
Judas – the possible reasons behind his decisions, emphasizing destiny's
path, default directions, and similar philosophical & spiritual
issues. To quote a part of the lyrics: "We the chosen few / What more
can we do / The future has begun / A truth we can't outrun” (…) No
choice in the matter / It's perfectly clear / The pathway is chosen / No
innocence here." Despite the subject matter, it's not Christian music at all.
'The Fallen' brings an intellectual (rather than rebellious) mood, which
definitely helps with focusing on individual instrumental parts. The
whole track was mixed by Pete Doell at Universal Music, based on the
band's own studio recordings. The song however still feels like a
cleaner version of a live recording due to the additional ambiance - the
sound 'leaks' slightly, thus possibly causing some purists to sniff
disapprovingly. It's not a biggie though, since the arrangements clearly
speak in favour of the band's creative potential.
Make sure you give Commit Samantha constructive feedback via their
social profiles, see them live during the incoming shows, and buy their
music. This should encourage the band to continue on their enlightened
path of creative & philosophical escapism.
(Reviewer: Katarzyna 'NINa' Górnisiewicz, Fabryka Industrial Rock &
Metal Encyclopedia, February 23rd, 2017. Proofreading: Mike 'Vesper'
Dziewoński)
Source: http://industrialrock.net/php-files_en/articles.php?article_id=591
Official | ReverbNation | Twitter | Facebook | YouTube | Google+ | Instagram
Buy on: Bandcamp
Reviewed by Fabryka Industrial Rock & Metal Encyclopedia