Pitchblend

‘The Lines Of Unreason’ is the debut album release from Reading four-piece Pitchblend, an album that seemingly took an eternity to complete. This album was a good few years in the making; the reason for this is that the band went through a number of line-up changes during this period and the album therefore never got finished (until now that is). The album finally arrived through Sugar Shack Records on February 18th 2008, a thirteen track offering of progressive metal and one that wasn’t really entirely worth the wait. ‘The Lines Of Unreason’ is not a bad album, it’s just not so strong as it could have been and the music is at times a little too weak I feel.

Throughout this ‘The Lines Of Unreason’ album some beautiful use of guitar sound is made, the album is pleasant to listen to but you could easily leave this album running and completely forget that it was playing. The music does not cause much of an impact, as I listen to this album I find that many of the sounds created by the band here wash right over me without ever leaving any real lasting impact. Instrumentally the music is pleasant, vocally also the tone taken here is well put across by the band but without ever being particularly impressive. ‘The Lines Of Unreason’ is I feel the absolute epitome of musical mediocrity, the music is okay but never do you get even the slightest feeling that what you’re listening to is anything particularly special.

As the album unfolds there are no real stand-out tracks to speak of, every one of these thirteen tracks present is just as average as the next and always the music is kept on the same oomph lacking level. This would be a great album to listen to whilst you did the housework; a perfect background sound whilst doing any other activity but not a great album just to sit down and solely listen to. There’s just not enough going on here, not enough excellence shown on behalf of the band and always the music is just a little lacking. All thirteen of these tracks have been well put together by Pitchblend, the music is just rather unspectacular I feel.

I was expecting a little more from this album, much of this ‘The Lines Of Unreason’ album however just sounds to be Pitchblend giving their best impersonation of the sound of Placebo. Pitchblend’s vocalist Rich Savage certainly has the Brian Molko vocal approach down to a tee, I’d rather hear the band being a little more experimental with their sound however and providing a little extra in the way of originality. The album is quite pleasant, it’s definitely lacking in something however and the album seems to be trapped in a land of mediocrity; constantly the music is fighting to provide more but never is the sound created anything greater than average. If you liked Placebo’s ‘Without You I’m Nothing’ album then you’ll probably like Pitchblend’s debut release also; it’s certainly extremely similar.

Label: Sugar Shack Records
Release Date: February 18th 2008

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