 Even
X | Angry Mirror
a radio bobo-k music cd review
Buy
It Labeled
"emo hardcore", the debut CD from Even X is more a mélange of
metl sounds sounds, with surprisingly intelligent and interesting lyrics. What
limits this CD are production issues (the "s" whistle so much when the
word "sun" is sung in Jealous that it hurt my ears -- and there are
some odd effects on backing vocals of Frozen and In My Rage) and less-than-stellar
sequencing of songs. But despite these issues, Even X are a throwback to some
of the great industrial influenced metal acts of the mid-late 90s while sounding
quite modern. What
is evident on Angry Mirror is a talented group with, dare I say, several slabs
of mansteak! "Chills" (track 4) has one of those slow rhythms and deep
vocals that, well, your Radio Bobo likes to get busy to. I dare you to listen
to "Enemy" (track 6) without grooving along. Cuts 9-12 are also standouts
on the recording. Unfortunately
as I have previously mentioned, the album suffers from bad production making many
of the songs sound muddy. The album is also oddly sequenced - the first three
songs sound like they could have been performed by three different bands. "Angry
Man" sounds like White Zombie, "Awake" has that guttural not-quite
singing/not-quite shouting vocal that many metal bands today are employing - a
style which I'm not fond of, and "Let The Bitch Come" mixes a staccato
rhythm, weirdly ethereal backing vocals and a half shout/half whisper lead vocals.
Once you get past those three, the rest of the album flows pretty well together,
and save a few songs, is quite good. While
I didn't get the meaning from reading through the lyrics (which are included in
the booklet, apparently most of the songs are condemnations of organized religion
and advocating leaving it behind to find the true path to enlightenment. "Let
the Bitch Come Up", for example, is supposed to be likening adultery to false
prophets ("Everything's been done before/Now I am craving for a whore/Have
I gone to far astray/I can't make it go away") and "Chain Me Down"
cautions the listener about the blindfolds that society places on us ("Uncover
me I need to see/Make me believe/Set me free, oh set me free") Get
past the first few cuts and give this one a try. Despite some limitations, musically
Even X is better than ¾ of the "nu metal" groups out there and
worth repeated listens! Track
listing:
1. Angry Mirror
2. Awake
3. Let the Bitch Come Up
4. Chills
5.
Searching
6. Enemy
7. Jealous
8. In My Rage
9. Chain Me Down
10.
Frozen
11. Say Goodbye
12. Cries of Time | 
