Memphis, TN's American Gods was formed by Dead City guitarist Phillip Marfoglio, but don't expect anything closely related to metallic hardcore, as the band's debut EP, "Chariot the Ghost" (released by Withdrawal Records), heads in an entirely different musical direction. I guess you could call their somber yet memorable songwriting loaded with plenty of melody a fusion of post-hardcore and shoegaze? Expect pulsing basslines, lush clean passages, swirling guitar textures, and subdued, softly sung vocals mixed right into the thick of the instrumentation. Occasionally they'll even blend in some samples or smatterings of electronics, but for the most part it's fuzzed out guitars and dense bass running the show. I'm not sure if it's the vocal style, or perhaps the overall tone of the recording, but even the catchier or somewhat harder hitting moments generally have a relaxed kind of feel, which actually works out quite nicely. I'm fairly inexperienced when it comes to the whole "shoegaze" thing, so I can't make a particularly educated assessment here, but all that matters is I like it, and I definitely want to hear more...
The 12" is limited to 500 copies (300 on swirled gray/black/white, 150 on swirled yellow/orange/red, and 50 available directly from the band on swirled red/black), and each one includes a digital download. You can also grab the tracks directly from iTunes...
Get It
Withdrawal Records (12")
iTunes (mp3)
Comments
I feel some of the same vibes as when I listen to Junius. I like it.
3.8.2011 | By bullettobinary