Sunday, July 24, 2011

The Shining Skulls - Destroy Your Self

Destroy Your Self, the debut album by Seattle’s The Shining Skulls is an album that walks the line between perfectly polished and radio ready and needing to be listened to alone through headphones.

Benjamin Trimpe has managed to accomplish something rare in his first attempt behind the boards. The mix here is highly impressive. For an album that involves so much atmosphere and texture, there is never a point where sounds are struggling for space. There is a clarity and direction with each track. This is easily going to be one of the better sounding albums you will hear this year.

In concerns to the songs, expect to hear oceanic rock music with natural pop sensibility. The rises and falls of the songs are well constructed. They build and build, and explode when you want them to, but avoid predictability and formulaic cliches. It is clear that each of the members have been around the block a few times, as there are no meddling attempts at finding a sound, which typically will drag down debut releases.

I’m fortunate enough to have a friendship with Benjamin, and have some knowledge of the process that took place during the recording of this album. I have such a high level of admiration for someone that sets out to take on a project of this magnitude on their own dime, and to put forth the hours upon hours that it takes to learn your way in the studio. I know of the struggle with the sounds you have, and the sounds you’ll be capable of tomorrow, and I can tell that all of the time and patience that went into this record have paid dividends. This album is a professional product. This album is ready to be heard by the masses, and deserves to be. The songs are varied and have something to offer fans of multiple genres. Getting bored is not something you’ll need to concern yourself with. When this album comes out, do yourself a favor and pick up a copy.

The Shining Skulls are playing their release show on August 13th at the High Dive. If you are in or near Seattle, I recommend you come join me there. I have no doubts you will leave having had your body sufficiently rocked.

Keep up on The Shining Skulls at: http://www.facebook.com/theshiningskulls

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