Aeges - The Bridge
Rating
RIYL
TorcheQuicksand
Helmet
Foo Fighters
Release Date
04/17/2012
Label
The Mylene SheathTracklist
1. Wrong2. My Medicine
3. Southern Comfort
4. Doesn't Feel the Same
5. Sent from Heaven (Rest in Dirt)
6. The Bridge
7. Roaches
8. The Words We Say
9. I Believe in Ghosts
10. Fade Out
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Raise your hands if you thought the side project featuring members of post-metal pioneers Pelican and sludge-lords 16 would be described as “poppy”? Defying all logic and the-always-important Vegas odds, “poppy” is the end result, as Aeges emphasizes riffs and hooks in equal measure. Call it “stoner pop” or “pop sludge;” whatever the label, it’s just “fun.” The Bridge is deceptively simple considering the member’s previous bands. The only thing post or progressive that can be attributed to the album is that Aeges takes heed from the success of mid-90s post-hardcore bands. The Bridge prefers not to wow listeners with musical prowess or seven-minute build-ups; instead the band churns out ten head boppers.
Album opener “Wrong” just feels so damn right, as its opening riffs immediately grab listeners by the ears and demand attention. The song features a great wall of sound that ushers in what listeners can expect throughout The Bridge: fuzzed out guitars, hefty melodies, and solid drumming. While “Wrong” is one of the strongest tracks on the album, the other nine are no slouch. “Southern Comfort” and “”Doesn’t Feel the Same” are a solid one-two punch that showcases the cornucopia of 90s influences found throughout the album. The riffs are sludgy in a way that bridges Torche and Helmet. The vocals are passionate and gruffly melodic like the best of Dave Grohl, and there is a mid-career Blindside touch in the guitars and melodic structure.
The only major issues to note are the occasional inconsistency and the production. While the songs are not altogether throwaways, “Roaches” and “I Believe in Ghosts” are not quite up to snuff with the remainder of the album. On repeat listens, these tracks can be skipped or forgotten and the structural integrity of the bridge is still intact. The other problem is also an asset: the production. That “wall of sound” is quite muddy, which serves as a benefit with the sludgy guitars and the drum work, but it also comes across as a detractor when the vocals are muddled up or when the wall becomes too much of a collective sound and not enough of individual components working together.
What makes The Bridge work so damn well is that Aeges has carved out their own musical niche on album number one. This group of musical veterans obviously knows what it wanted to accomplish from the outset, and that single-minded focus has shown through. With the heavy emphasis on guitar riffs and memorable melodies, the result is a fantastic release that is sure to serve as an under-the-radar surprise for 2012.
--Nick Senior
Comments
Reno, NV
Great, accurate review Nick. Love this record. Southern Comfort is probably my favorite track on there. Deftones better not come up on this thread. Ooops...
Top Weekly Artists Last.fm
London, UK
The mention of Quicksand has definitely got me interested. Looking forward to checking this out
Currently listening to:
Jolly - The Audio Guide To Happiness (Part 2)
Leprous - Coal
Dillinger Escape Plan - One Of Us Is The Killer
Amorphis - Circle
Hope For The Dying - Aletheia
Best Of 2012 - Best Of 2013
Columbus, OH
Thanks, Bucky! This is a great album. Outside of the poor production, I really can't complain about much.
Currently Listening To:
Lo!- Monstrorum Historia
HeavyArms- Burning Crowds
Shining- One One One
Reno, NV
Max, your "currently listening" list has never failed me. And if you dig the new Torche album, you will definitely like this one. New Torche is amazing as well.
Top Weekly Artists Last.fm
Fishers, Indiana
Dig this album hard. It all runs together a bit, but this is what Torche would sound like if they were listenable.
Top Albums: 2012 | 2011 | 2010 | 2009 || Tumblr | Twitter
London, UK
Only on my first listen, but I seriously like this. Like you suggested, it reminds me of Quicksand and Helmet but that sludgy bottom end adds a little bit more power or heaviness which works really well.
Currently listening to:
Jolly - The Audio Guide To Happiness (Part 2)
Leprous - Coal
Dillinger Escape Plan - One Of Us Is The Killer
Amorphis - Circle
Hope For The Dying - Aletheia
Best Of 2012 - Best Of 2013
Great review, Nick and thanks for turning me on this band. I can feel some Handsome reminiscences, as well..:)
Reno, NV
Don't even start it Zach. You aren't listenable. At least you are half on point by liking this band. And its really not possible to LOVE this and not be able to listen to Harmonicraft. About as similar as two albums that are so unique can be. Sludge Pop.
Top Weekly Artists Last.fm
Columbus, OH
To be fair, this is a more streamlined variety of sludge pop. I also prefer this to Torche, but I don't mind Harmonicraft at all.
Currently Listening To:
Lo!- Monstrorum Historia
HeavyArms- Burning Crowds
Shining- One One One
Staunton, Va
This album is too damn good
Rocking:
In Vain-Aenigma
HIM-Tears on Tape
Soilwork- The Living Infinite
Shone-Heatthing
Daylight Dies-A Frail Becoming
Bring me the Horizon-Sempiternal
Birds of Tokyo-March Fires
Senses Fail-Renacer
The Dear Hunter-Migrant
Killswitch Engage-Disarm the Disent
El Paso, TX
This is surprisingly good, I wasn't sure I'd enjoy it at first but it sort of reminds of some of the work on He Is Legend's "It Hates You", and that can't be bad in my book.
Olympia, Washington
this is a nice find!
Reno, NV
Ya, I can't figure out which one I like better. Both stellar albums. I like giving Zach shit either way. ;)
Top Weekly Artists Last.fm
Columbus, OH
Haha, I definitely prefer this one, so thanks again for finding this, Bucky.
Currently Listening To:
Lo!- Monstrorum Historia
HeavyArms- Burning Crowds
Shining- One One One
Reno, NV
I don't really find stuff anymore. People just drop shit on my doorstep in essence.
Top Weekly Artists Last.fm
Fullmalls.com will be happy to drop shit on ANYONE'S doorstep!
Baton Rouge
You're not alone. Torche is goat-braying to my ears as well.
Boobs
http://thenicsperiment.blogspot.com/
Reno, NV
FULLMALLS CAN SUCK MY BALLS ON MY DOORSTEP!
Top Weekly Artists Last.fm
Minnesota
I fully support this album as a good alternative to Torche. I echo Zach in that it's basically what a listenable version of Torche would sound like.
Find me EVERYWHERE:
Reno, NV
So basically you are saying that both album are awesome and that this album can be swapped with Torche-Harmonicraft with equal pleasure? Harmonicraft is as listenable as it gets.
Top Weekly Artists Last.fm
