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Chevelle: Sci-Fi Crimes
man the destroyer new music review

Chevelle: Sci-Fi Crimes

Alternative Metal
Rating: 4.5/5.0

Just a quick warning here, Sci-Fi Crimes is one of those album demanding to be listened to all the way through in one go. I'll do my best to try and explain each song individually and how they all fit into the album as a whole.

A modern metal band who don't feel the need to use cookie monster vocals from America that doesn't totally suck and isn't Mastodon? Hell hath frozen over. In all seriousness, Chevelle has been around since the 90's and my only question is why I haven't heard of this trio before? Sounding like a mix between Deliverance Era Corrosion of Conformity and any particular Tool album, Chevelle sets the stage right away with 'Sleep Apnea'. It's heavy and rocks while still keeping it's melody. The same can be said for 'Mexican Sun' which is just as great as the previous track. 'Shameful Metaphors' changes pace unexpectedly, sounding like a melodic style, more radio friendly version Tool's early hit 'Sober'. After that, 'Jars' sounds a lot like the former until it builds up into another rocker with a CoC style riff.

Furthermore, 'Fell into Your Shoes' is probably what Nirvana would have sounded like if Kurt Cobain was bit more of a metalhead, could crack his voice, played guitar solos, and had access to a synth. Okay, that might be a bit of a stretch but the song is great and very different from other alt music. 'Letter from a Thief' detailing an experience the band had when a thief stole their equipment is one of the best tracks on the album. It's a rocker reminiscent of Tool's 'Parabola'. Entirely acoustic 'Highland's Apparition' breaks up the pace well enough to make 'Roswell's Spell' seem even heavier than it his. The two songs make a point-counterpoint of Chevelle's two greatest strengths. 'Interlewd' is exactly that, a badly spelled interlude with an excellent performance by the band's rhythm section. It ends up serving the same purpose as 'Highland's Apparition', preparing the listener for 'A New Momentum' with the best riff on Sci-Fi Dreams. The album closes as in the same way it begins, with an excellent rocker. This time it's 'This Circus'.

Lyrically, the album isn't quite as heavy as Chevelle's others with perhaps the exception of 'Letter From a Thief'. Instead the band tackles what the album title suggests, the science fiction. Things such as apparitions, aliens and conspiracy theories is a very lighthearted affair after Vena Sera.

Fans of Chevelle's previous work will eat this up. If you like hard rock, this is the album for you. If you like alternative with a bit more punch, this is the album for you. If you're tired of waiting for the next Tool album, this is the album for you. Highly recommended.

In Short

Fans of Chevelle's previous work will eat this up. If you like hard rock, this is the album for you. If you like alternative with a bit more punch, this is the album for you. If you're tired of waiting for the next Tool album, this is the album for you.

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