Semiotics

Whooboy, these types of reviews are always fun. This is one of those times I get to rave adamantly about a band I’m confident you haven’t heard. I have the extreme privilege of introducing the masses (250 and counting!) to Semiotics. Say Something may only have six songs, but this is a powerful compilation. Each intelligently progressive track shows off another gift from these seriously talented dudes. And I mean dude in the most respectful of ways.

I would like to think my musical tastes are in tune with wide varieties of people. Also, I’m an idiot. Thus (thus?), I hardly make blanket claims about the “Next Like Totally Huge” band. What do I know? For my sanity, that will remain a rhetorical question. Self-loathing aside, Say Something translates well across boundaries. For those hardcore fans that rarely find lighter worthwhile music, Semiotics is here. For pop-punk kids (Hi there!) looking to gain indie cred, Semiotics is here.

Take the pleasing and crashing guitars and sophisticated piano of “Bred Of Soil And Sun.” Todd Means’ tentative, fleeting voice sounds strong in any atmosphere. And he doesn’t seem to get tired either, as is evident on 7+ minute “Terracotta Soldiers.” The progressive nature of Semiotics never mires in too much feedback or too little melody. Guitars chug heavily at times (“Pay The Man”), but also get freaky with technical solos (“Asymmetry”). Sporadically placed strings and female vocals give Semiotics an experienced sheen most young bands can only dream about. This is no ordinary unsigned band.

“Parable:Deluge” features a scary, lullaby-like piano. Means’ voice is rough in its lower register and the disjointed riffs make things wonderfully terrifying. The audible landscapes throughout Say Something are quite vivid, and Semiotics sound bigger than expected.

Remember, however, I am a whimp. I don’t normally stand in front of the firing squad like this. Let’s hope Semiotics is as bulletproof as I think they are. And after wasting nearly 4 minutes of your life with my own opinions, it seems counterintuitive to simply resign myself to the fact that Semiotics' success depends on you. Alas (alas?), majority rules. You decide.

Recommended If You Like: Circa Surive, Mute Math, fine print, Damiera, new environments - Absolutepunk.net (Blake Solomon)