The December Sound: The December Sound (Silver Album) 2007

 

The December Sound are a Boston/Brooklyn band (guitarist/vocalist Zack Sarzana relocated to Brooklyn) who released their debut album. The set opens with "Never", a full impact assault of heavy

rocking psychedelia, as if Helios Creed (CHROME) were playing guitar with the Brian Jonestown Massacre. The intensity level goes into orbit on "No Heaven Like Hell". The guitars bubble and shimmer like Hawkwind's Space Ritual, but with a punked out searing edge. Relentless! "Drone Refusenik" has a trippy Eastern flavor to an otherwise power psych rocking tune. "Painkiller", "Maker" and "Tape Tape" are other power psych rock tunes.
                            

I've read where a number of reviewers have referred to The December Sound as Shoegaze, but I don't

see how they could be labeled a Shoegaze band. "Reminder" and "Truth Hurts" certainly explore that realm, with their heavy but totally dreamy guitars. But otherwise, definitely not Shoegaze. Is a cool track with a mish-mash of freaked out efx'd guitar, drones, voice samples and general psycho mind-fuckedness. "Kill Me (Before I Kill You)" is probably the closest to a pop song on the album.
                 

But don't be deceived, as there's lots happening here. It's got a catchy melody, while being loaded to the max with brain bashing intensity, lysergic freakouts and an off-kilter rhythmic pulse that will knock you

off your feet. "Il Forte" is another beautifully dreamy melodic and catchy song, and still completely psychedelicized. And "Not If It's On Your Time" is the lengthy jamming closing track. The first 8 minutes of this nearly 14 minute piece is a gorgeously drugged yet high voltage jam song. Then it goes into fade out space mode for a few minutes before winding down the set just as it began with a revision of "Never". A very impressive set of heavy guitar driven psychedelia.
                   

This cult of noise-terrorists cloak themselves in melting guitars, dangerous songwriting, evil drones, hypnotic bass-lines, maniacally distorted beats, heavily effected/detached vocals & otherworldly

soundscapes. It's dark and extreme, influenced by existentialism and avant-garde/radical/underground currents. The group has a reputation for unrelenting live shows that are a full-on assault of the senses,whilst achieving even greater depth on their debut album. Led by Zack Sarzana's gliding guitars and vocal stylings that range from soft and hazy to outright threatening. The December Sound creates a feeling of hollowed reverberations, echoing trough the air.
                   

Jimmy Rossi Jr. joins in creating this vicious soundscapes with dreamy keyboards and melodic rhythm

guitar that often calls back to Zack's leads. Keeping the back-beat going is the hypnotic ryhtym section which includes the spiral-like drumming of Drew Richards, along with newest member Cat Crowley, delicately playing a bass that hums chaos. The December Sound's The Silver Album album is filled with drones and tones of dark, profound sonic depth. Already being heralded as "the best unsigned band on the planet!" by the 'The Big Takeover', their debut effort certainly lives up that praise.
                        

THE DECEMBER SOUND - THE DECEMBER SOUND (SILVER ALBUM) 2007

                 

The December Sound – The December Sound (Silver Album)
Label: 8mm musik – 8MM007
Format: CD, Album
Country: Germany
Released: 2007
Genre: Rock
Style: Shoegaze, Psychedelic Rock

TRACKS

                        

01. Never   3:33
02. No Heaven Like Hell   3:45
03. Drone Refusenik   5:38
04. Do You In   2:44
05. Painkiller   4:03
06. Reminder   4:48
07. 月 の 音 12   4:24
08. Kill Me (Before I Kill You)   6:38
09. Maker   2:51
10. Il Forte   3:55
11. Truth Hurts   4:37
12. Tape Tape   3:08
13. Not If It´s On Your Time   13:36

BONUS TRACK FROM THE EP: KILL ME (BEFORE I KILL YOU) (EP) 2005

14. Reverence 4:06

LINE - UP
                     

Zack Sarzana (vocals, guitar)
Jimmy Rossi (keyboard, guitar)
Cat Crowley (bass)
Drew Richards (drums)
Written by Zack Sarzana

Flac Size: 489 MB