ORPHEUS - review added 1st December 2009
Album Review: Orpheus (self-titled) (2009)
For fans of: Alt Rock... and black 'n' red covers
Norway's Orpheus - Ingrid Galadriel on vocals, Kristian Drivenes and Sivert Skaaren on guitars, Rune Engesæter on bass, and Torgeir Nilsen on drums - had a first inkling of existence back in late 2002. By 2005 the band had an EP under its belt. This eponymous album is the band's first full length and marks the debut of more than half the members. Orpheus has had its fair share of line-up changes over the years, and only Kristian remains from the bands foundation.
Sound-wise, the band play a heavy, sludgy metal that nods to the grumblier side of rock from across the world. There are hints of numerous bands throughout the album, but the overwhelming feeling is of a band more or less doing their own thing.
Unfortunately, the result isn't that great. It's kind of okay in places, but more often than not it resorts to noise rather than catchy melody. Singer Ingrid has plenty of power backing her voice up, and her tone certainly isn't bad. She's doesn't do a great deal for me though, and that's a shame because I've heard considerably worse singers this year.
The musicianship is, again, okay, but it's spectacularly uninspiring. I don't think there's a single note of a single song that makes me think, "Hmmm, if they'd expanded that idea they could have gotten somewhere", although 'Bygones' perhaps isn't too far off.
I don't hate this band, and I think if I saw them live I could quite enjoy it, but this album leaves me as cold as an ice cube on holiday in Greenland.
Check out... Something else.
Track List:
1. Fuck me over
2. Constructing
3. Bygones
4. Mr. Manipulative
5. Peepin' Tom
6. Repay
7. Bloodflow
8. The plan
Artist's website(s): MySpace
