Gothenburg, Sweden’s Man from the Box immediately draws listeners in with the first track of Three Sides of a Tragedy; Was Better Before is an intense blend of sizzling guitars, dark and dirty progressive metal, and a narrative that will have listeners following each word. Two minutes is all that is needed to set the stage for the rest of the album. Wrong Place, Wrong Time is a complex effort that succeeds due to a ropy bass lines, perfectly-placed percussion, and a passionate guitar that builds off of the work of surf rock (Dick Dale) as well as the Red Hot Chili Peppers. The contemplative sound established during this song showcases that Man from the Box is miles ahead of other rock acts; extended instrumental interludes make the Tom Waits-inspired vocals of the song’s second half shine all the brighter.
Unpleasantly Surprised links together the gritty rock of Motorhead with the more sun-drenched sound of Jane’s Addiction. The guitar creates an indelible mark on this track, making the resulting song resound in fans’ ears long after it ceases.
Vanishing is the penultimate single from Three Sides of a Tragedy I, imbuing the latter moments of the release with considerable gravitas. The placement of this song further hammers home the artist’s ability to create a cogent and fulfilling instrumentation. Three Sides of a Tragedy I concludes with Ignorance, a track which links together the disparate approaches taken on the album. The robust collection of twists and turns further increases the replay value of this concluding track; Three Sides of a Tragedy I is an album that occupies a space much greater than its run time indicates.
Top Tracks: Wrong Place, Wrong Time , Was Better Before
Rating: 8.6/10
Three Sides of a Tragedy I by Man from the Box / 2015 Self / 6 Tracks / http://manfromthebox.com/ / https://www.facebook.com/manfromthebox/
John Sargeant, writing on NeuFutur as Sargeant, is the founder and editor-in-chief of NeuFutur Magazine, where he has covered independent music, PC hardware, consumer tech, and gaming culture since 1998. With over 25 years of continuous digital publishing experience, he has written thousands of hands-on game and record reviews, conducted in-depth hardware field testing, and analyzed digital media monetization trends. His work prioritizes first-hand evaluation and long-term product testing.
Beats: Independent Music, PC Gaming & Peripherals, Consumer Tech, Webmaster Tools
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