Chiodos
Bone Palace Ballet
Equal Vision



'Bone Palace Ballet' is Chiodos' second full-length album released with Equal Vision records after 'All's Well That Ends Well'. With a darkly adorned CD cover it seemed reasonable to expect a similarly dark sound, but the moment I heard the vocalist's (Craig Owens) higher-pitched whiny first words I felt betrayed. Owens changes from one of those renowned hardcore growls to this controlled feminine dance with words, but also to a higher-pitched strained atrocity and though ear-piercingly annoying at times, the dynamics do add variety.

The band have strived to produce a more varied sound where each song is distinguishable from the previous. Some have solid guitar riffs with a powerful double kick keeping pace and this provides a lot of energy in their sound, but there are also occasions where a pretty piano part will break the usual constructs and moody strings will enhance the variation. It is easy to get immersed in these particular moments, but too many times it quickly switches back to the heavy swing and these moments just become atmospheric clichˇs. At times there are hints of different movements, as when it sounds as though a latin groove is beginning and this progresses into a heavy breakdown...very interesting.

When I first listened to this album I felt grief for having to listen to the trying vocals of Owens. With more of a listen the dynamics of Owens voice, the effort that Chiodos have made to create a varied sound can be appreciated. It is a sound that has light and dark shades, where a song can have a pop feel to it or move into a more sombre, melancholic tone.

If post-hardcore with something a bit different is your calling, 'Bone Palace Ballet' is one worth a listen.

Talia Lomman