Rwake--If You Walk Before You Crawl You Crawl Before You Die
At A Loss 2004
Many bands these days carelessly throw every style and genre they can think of into a blender in an attempt to falsely paint themselves as "innovative." However, there are a few such outfits out there coming from the right place, forging exciting new frontiers in sound. Rwake is at the very top of that elite class. Their second album, If You Walk Before You Crawl You Crawl Before You Die, has set a new benchmark for all metallic genre benders that follow.
Rwake's sound is a fairly complex amalgam of styles. The grating coarseness of sludge is the obvious base but If You Walk Before You Crawl You Crawl Before You Die also boasts elements of psych, prog, and many other forms of metal, particularly the harmony riffing most associated with NWOBHM. For this reason, the best single band to compare Rwake to would be Mastodon. Still, these folks definitely have their own thing going. It's an incredibly drugged out and heavy listen, yet dynamic and rich in depth, simultaneously.
The thing that seperates Rwake from the rest of the mass hybribizing metallers, and ultimately makes them best at it, is their fairly linear approach to songwriting. All of the songs on If You Walk Before You Crawl You Crawl Before You Die feature multiple sections but Rwake are wise to steer clear of the pointless time changes and "thirty crappy riffs equals one passable song" mentality that invalidates so many other like-minded bands. Every move made in this music has purpose, and most importantly, fits and respects "song." Taking this into account, it should be noted If You Walk Before You Crawl You Crawl Before You Die is best listened to as an "album" as opposed to "a collection of songs"--this disc is an experience; an entity unto itself. There are moments when a groovy riff will surface, such as on "Sleep And Forget Forever" and "Woodson Lateral," or melodic beauty will spring forth to counterbalance the harshness, as on the riff that closes "Imbedded" or the stunning harmony lead work featured on "Forge"--these provide very singularly memorable moments. Still, the parts never become greater than the whole, making this an album best experienced in its entirety.
There may be other bands out there with a similar mindset getting more press but make no mistake--Rwake are the best in the world at this kind of metal. There's an enormous difference in the very good and the great. If You Walk Before You Crawl You Crawl Before You Die is the stuff legends are made of. A masterpiece and instant classic of the form.
Score this CD directly from AT A LOSS
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