Strange Wilds – Subjective Concepts

More Noise Than Melody

If you feel like your playlist has been missing the punk/ screamo rock from Vans Warped Tour days past, then add Strange Wilds’ Subjective Concepts to your repertoire. This band has the potential to develop into a strong metal band. The prevalent bass and guitar players reflect the ’90s hardcore Nirvana influences.

The bass player is highlighted in the track “Pronoia.” This track is the most riff dominant and dynamics minded of the album. Unlike the rest of the album that leans towards maintaining a double forte from start to finish, “Pronoia” has a lighter, warm guitar that builds up to the crescendo at the chorus. The bass and the drums lead the decrescendo in the verses and slowly build back up to the forte at the bridge and choruses. “Autothysis” is the most stripped down and slowest tempo track on the album. Strange Wilds pays homage to the ’90s music scene, specifically to their home state of Washington with the dreary punk overtones in “Autothysis.”

The band relies too heavily on clashing minor chord progressions. Strange Wilds is intentionally emanating a theme of chaos through the clanging symbols and distorted guitars, yet it could be communicated better with a bit more clarity between the vocalist and the instruments. The album lacks an eclectic quality, for all the tracks seem to be very formulaic and difficult to set apart from one another.

The biggest takeaway quality from this album is that it’s loud. Strange Wilds would benefit from listening to one another more and allowing each of their instruments to work in harmony as opposed to competing for who can be the loudest, and subsequently producing more noise than melody.