Sound: As usual, Trail of Dead mix grandiose, prog-rock ambition with scrappy, underground aggression. So Divided never sticks with one sound (from track to track or within a song), and jumps around from arena-ready anthems with a touch of psychedelia to raw, stomping blues to symphonic pomp to a rootsy ballad, a goth rock dirge and much more.
Vocals: Slightly nasal and strained but tuneful with reverb for extra largness. The spirited and energetic melodies are often reminiscent of Tim DeLaughter when he was in Tripping Daisy and - when they do choral pop for one track – his current work with The Polyphonic Spree.
Look For: Their beefed up version of the lo-fi Guided By Voices classic “The Goldheart Mountaintop Queen Directory.”
Heavy Rotation track: “Wasted State of Mind”
Medium Rotation tracks: “Stand In Silence”; “Eight Day Hell”; “Life”
Explicit Lyrics*: none
Recommended: As always, there’s any overwrought weight to Trail of Dead’s music. They simply try to do too much. However, So Divided streamlines their sound in several places and adds enough hooks to make this one of their most enjoyable and memorable albums.
Grade: B
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* Noting of explicit lyrics is for the benefit of radio music directors or anyone else that needs/wants to keep their music FCC-friendly.
Did you ever hear that song “Intelligence” on their Secrets of Elena’s Tomb EP? I swear to Jarvis Cocker that it’s better than anything else I’ve ever heard by this band. There’s this freakout of electronic breakdown that’s so hot. It’s like Primal Scream’s XTRMNTR-level awesomeness.
Is there anything on this album like that, because that’s what I want. You can keep the choral pop and roots rock.
I vaguely remember that EP. I don’t think there’s anything like that on here. But at least check out “Wasted State of Mind” and “Stand In Silence.” If those don’t work for you, move on.