Have you ever wondered what it would sound like if Tool and Pendulum circa In Silico had a lovechild? I hadn't either but Melbourne's Full Code came along and answered that unasked question anyway and I'm glad they did.
To tell you a little more about the music instead of just frothing at the mouth over its greatness the album has two interludes that are just over a minute and except for those there isn't a song on it under the six minute mark, two of them even surpass ten!
I'm guessing the guitarist plays the synths as the guitars and synths rarely co-exist which gives the album a sound of its own since a lot of parts are lacking a guitar track. Don't think that means the songs are lacking as the absence only makes the guitar sound more powerful when it comes around, the same goes for the synths. The riffs are memorable, catchy and most of all serve the songs perfectly whether they're played on a guitar or a synthesizer and the latter often comes with the distorted oscillating sound often attributed to dubstep these days but don't expect samples and bass drops here.
Speaking of bass, the bassist really fills the space when the guitar drops out, supports the synths very naturally and keeps the grooves going along with the drums. While it doesn't do a bunch of solos or grab the spotlight frequently neither does the guitar for the most part. Both sit comfortably with their own place in the mix and the songwriting along with everything else, creating a great balance within each song.
1. Yes, that is a Diagnose: Lebensgefahr reference.
2. This does not mean blast beats and 32nd note bass drum hits.
The drumming is simply perfect for every moment. Whether it's a proggy groove, a drum'n'bass-esque beat or a subtle beat building the tension of a calm part every hit, every fill and every silence he backs out of is there filled with purpose and meaning which is not something I say that often about drumming.
If I had to name flaws to the album I can say that the interlude "Jønn Jincke ¿" doesn't really do anything for me and I kinda wish they'd developed the earlier, ambient, interlude "If you feel planet" into a full song. Those qualms are minor since one of them is that a one minute twenty seven second song isn't that great (i.e. not even bad) and that another one and a half minute song is cool enough for me to want more.
Does this review come off as fanboy-ish and asskiss-y? Probably but I honestly love this album and while an album filled with 6-10 minute long songs may be a hard sell for pop music lovers I would still safely recommend this to pretty much anyone willing to give it a go so give it a chance and tell your friends.
The full album is available physically and digitally on Bandcamp and if you dig this but haven't really listened to Pendulum or Tool, In Silico and Lateralus are waiting for your attention somewhere out there.
Hope you all love it as much as I do.
Jón Þór