Well, this is weird. I mean, Higher Giant is a supergroup (of sorts) and it sounds like one; like a bunch of friends (from the Token Entry and Paint it Black pedigree) got together without much time to find consistency in a sound and decided to just roll with the musical punches. This approach sees success (album starter “See You Later, Chopstick”) while also inspiring head-scratches (“The Bad Investment”). There are some cool ideas here, like the Geddy-Lee-fronts-Lipona-or-Ryan’s-Hope-or-A-Wilhelm-Scream bite of the opener. But other tracks see a bit too much classic rock and metal as opposed to the punk sound that sets this band off. When the guys avoid the “Judas Priest gone prog while swilling Schlitz” vibe and focus more on melding their influences into a cohesive sound, they are much more successful.
If you’re looking for an interesting listen, this is certainly that. Problem is, while Higher Giant certainly have history in the punk/hardcore scene, they seem distracted by the novelty of melding their past successes with their personal influences. When it sounds honest, as in the first track and last track (“Union Square”), it really works. Unfortunately, the middle of Al’s Moustache is a bit too slow and confused. When tottering between two and three stars, I try and decide if the release sounds tired and played out or refreshing and new. It’s the latter for this one.
This is a band that needs more time and old-school jam sessions, but knowing the way these groups tend to release a record or two and then move on, I’m not holding my breath.
Label: Black Numbers
