Amnesia - Versus The Bear [EP]

Blacktop Records

July 4, 2009, 01:11 PM

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Not one for listening to metal (except for a 3 month period in my mid-teens [the “emo” phase]) it was a bit of a shock hearing Amnesia. The lead “singer” really sounds like he needs some Strepsils, screaming and shouting like the creature in Jeepers Creatures or something of that ilk. People should only ever sound like said singer if they have acute laryngitis.

The Ontario based band have been around for 1 year (their MySpace page proudly declaring the 1st anniversary) and they have a rather large support tour starting in a fortnight. Amnesia look like a happy bunch of boys on their MySpace. Full of smiles and Canadian jollity!

Track 1 of the 5 track EP (which has lyric notes inside, obviously because it is impossible to understand what they’re saying most of the time), is a scream and noise-fest. “RAAHH RAAHH RAHHH!” sings Todd, to this obscurely named song “I’ve Got a Hangnail, Let’s Get A Room at the Ramada!” Track 2 sounds similar to track one, again with an interesting title “The Art of Chao Shao-An”. There is some proper singing in this song, however it is a sort of whiny, slightly off-key drone.

Track three is the so very aptly named “The Comfort in Sound”. In fact, the song is so comfortable it’s like having my brain drilled, or lying on a bed of super-sharp nails. This then ends quickly, which is great, and track 4 “Ashley, Feel Better (Or Else!)” starts. This is an acoustic scream-free number. Hurrah! However, Todd carries on winging about stuff, in his melancholic way.

Last track “Bedknobs and Broomsticks” is a far cry for the rather delightful Disney adventure film. It is a song that would promote fear and nightmares among children, the deep roars sounding a bit like the cries the Orcs make in the Lord of the Rings trilogy.

There’s as much depth as a puddle, mainly because most of the lyrics are indecipherable. Who can be bothered to read the lyrics sheet? [Not you blatantly - EDITOR].

It’s a headache of a record and unless you’re a devout hardcore metal fan, you’re going to hate it. If you are then give it a spin, you might just like it.

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