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Bear Vs. Shark
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Terrorhawk
Equal Vision Records
Release: 6/14/2005
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Rated:
Review by:
Matthew Nanes
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When Bear Vs. Shark released their debut album on Equal Vision Records in 2003 called Right Now, You're In The Best Of Hands. And If Something Isn't Quite Right, Your Doctor Will Know In A Hurry (no joke), it reeked of pretentiousness, yet there was something about their energetic, artsy punk rock that even gave the most cynical scenester a reason to dance and yell along. They followed the release with tours with hardcore bands like Fear Before The March of Flames and Evergreen Terrace, which unfairly lumped them in with the hardcore scene. Everyone who knew better knew that Bear Vs. Shark was much smarter and more talented than a lot of bands they toured with.
Enter Bear Vs. Shark's recent album, Terrorhawk, where they expand on the formula conjured from their last album and that will definitely separate themselves from their touring peers. Thanks to Matthew Ellard's (Fear Before The March of Flames, Converge) producing, the blasting and razor like guitar tones of "Catamaran" gives Bear Vs. Shark more punch and muscle without making them sound too bloated. This also works for "5, 6 Kids," a song that should propel fans at shows to convulse like mental patients.
With all of my talk of how much energy they have, Bear Vs. Shark also goes the other way with their sound, using keyboards, organs and much slower tempos. Vocalist Marc Paffi still yells like he drank 500 cups of coffee through the duration of "I Fucked Your Dad," but he decides to sing delicately on the piano driven "Baraga Embankment," which features Morphine's saxophone player. It's songs like these and the oddly beautiful "Song About Old Roller Coaster" that gives Terrorhawk it's depth, while at the same time, it's post-punk freak-outs like "Antwan" and the 30 second "Six Bar Phrase Hey Hey" that give the album it's charm.
Bear Vs. Shark has given their benchmark album, and it's going to be hard for them to top it. Just as long as they keep their sense of writing memorable with energetic and original post-punk songs, they will keep churning out great and fun albums. |
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