En Masse "Alarm" (Pop Up)
By Lucas Salg
Monday. Oct 02, 12:01 AM
Echoing, heavily reverbed guitar over a solid post-hardcore rhythmic foundation.

Florida’s En Masse, featuring ex-members of Further Seems Forever and Decahedron, have a pretty good thing going with their debut EP Alarm. Lots of echoing, heavily reverbed guitar over a solid post-hardcore rhythmic foundation. It reminds me a lot of Cave In and especially Hum, with a nod to the dark melodic sensibilities of Bauhaus or Disintegration-era The Cure. The opening combo of “Vollman” and “To Resonate” holds the EP’s best work, particularly the latter which overcomes its pedestrian lyrics with a strong melody and an inviting space-rock atmosphere. Five tracks and 19 minutes isn’t a lot to go on, but I like where these guys are headed. Alarm is a promising debut that heralds good things for a future full-length. And it sent me scrambling to dig out my copy of Downward is Heavenward, which is always a good thing. Recommended.
www.enmasse.org
www.popuprecords.com

Lucas Salg

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