Posted on: October 10, 2012 Posted by: James McQuiston Comments: 0

 

The beginning of Speed of Life’s “Mainstay” is admittedly slow; it is only during their second track on the disc, “Long Range Motion” that the band even begins to shine with a luster fitting of them. The music, a progressive-rock blend, really begins to excite when the band moves away from the traditional song structures and styles that ironically hold “Break Free” back..

The entirety of “Long Range Motion” may be a little repetitive, but it is the first essential step needed for truly beginning to wow Speed of Life’s audience on something more than just well-played instruments. The staggered sound of Tobias’ drums, a sound that will continually stand on the disc as a monument to the band’s adventurous desire, is first heard on this landmark track. “Recharge” feels like a track that is just attempting to do too much in too short of a period of time; there are distinct sounds on this track that as it is clog up the band’s innovative sound (the aforementioned drumbeats and Taylor’s bass lines) that would have done well to extend the track for an additional minute or show and allow for all elements to equally shine. However, the band vacillates to the other end of the matter for the follow-up track to “Recharge”, “Fading”. This track is not messy because there are too many things happening; rather, the stretched-out vocals and wide open spaces really make it a challenge to hold on to anything on this track. It is only during the ambitious near-nine minute epic “Peace In The Warzone” that Speed of Life truly make a track that does not fail do to a lack/excess in certain issues surrounding the band.

Regardless of when the tracks were created, there honestly feels to be an evolution throughout “Mainstay”, where Speed of Life seems to take to heart certain minor miscues and erase them from their retinue at the first chance possible. Even at its extended length, the nuanced sound of “Peace In The Warzone” really has the sound of the related epics of Guns ‘N’ Roses’ similar tracks from their magnum opus, Use Your Illusion I/II. Speed of Life is a hard band to correctly classify; their richness in sound comes at a period in popular music that extols the values of sounding simplistic; while this expansive, difficult to categorize sound may fly in the face of all the Britney’s of the world, it also may be our only savior.

Top Tracks: Peace In The Warzone, Disappear

Rating: 6.9/10

Speed of Life – Mainstay / Activesoundz / 10 Tracks / http://www.speedoflifemusic.com / http://www.activesoundz.com

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