steering clear of the mainstream
since 2001

june 2010

review
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info opinion

The Reptilian

"Boys' Life" EP

Count Your Lucky Stars

Genre: math rock, post-hardcore, indie rock

Michigan

October 2009

Midwestern fourpiece The Reptilian employ the mathy instrumentation of Minus the Bear and Hurl, but match it with yelly, post-hardcore vocals. It's not an unfamiliar combination, although these rolling, complex compositions could have benefitted from a more tuneful singer. Epic "So... what are my torso options?" (yes, they do the goofy song title thing, too) is like Minus the Bear channelled through Archers of Loaf-esque abandon, but Sacha's bland shout simply doesn't do the track justice (see video below). Tracks one and four are equally guilty. The album's lone instrumental, sure to get any Nintendo fan into a chuckle, is "Wallkicks will work" - without Sacha's vocals, the song shows an introspective and dreamy side of the band. Instrumentally, these folks deserve accolades, but the singing just doesn't cut it - lyrically or technically.

the reptilian's myspace

 

Matt Shimmer

[Vitals: 4 tracks, distributed by the label, released 2009]