Collapse Under The Empire – The Sirens Sound (Album Review)
Monday, 29 November 2010
Written by Ben Bland
German duo Collapse Under The Empire clearly takes influence from the likes of 65daysofstatic and God Is An Astronaut. Choosing to mix their otherwise standard post-rock with sweeping synthesizers and plenty of electronic ticks and bleeps, the band prove themselves to be expert at keeping a record ticking over without letting things get tired and overlong. The pair creates a sound that is soothing and often takes an uplifting path as opposed to the melancholic route often associated with post-rock acts. The band has taken care, however, to avoid falling into the common trap of being nothing but one of the generic instrumental bands of today. Collapse Under The Empire have recorded an album that sounds more like the soundtrack to an epic worldwide blockbuster than an album by a rock band. The swirling layers of synthesizers and shimmering guitars swell and burst into life without ever threatening to overtake the room in which one is listening and perhaps this leads to a problem with ‘The Sirens Sound’.
However pleasant the record is at its best (see the excellent ‘Grade Separation’), it always feels like it is just bubbling under. The best of the band’s post-rock contemporaries can be sincerely contemplative and peaceful but also dangerously distressed and downright loud. Even though there are moments in which Collapse Under The Empire do burst into life, such moments are few and far between. Furthermore, when they do arrive, they just aren’t quite explosive enough to make one really sit up and pay attention. The best artists of this genre, the likes of Red Sparowes and Russian Circles, are good enough at songwriting to write songs that act both as epic symphonies and truly memorable songs. Collapse Under The Empire, it is sad to say, either do not have such songwriting ability or they have mislaid it during the recording of this album. Therefore it is with disappointment that, though much of ‘The Sirens Sound’ is enjoyable to listen to, one is forced to conclude that this album is somewhat underwhelming as a whole.
That does not mean that Collapse Under The Empire should be too heavily criticised for what they have produced with ‘The Sirens Sound’. It is a record that feels completely whole, from the first bar of the title track at the beginning of the record to the dying notes of ‘A Different Complexion’; it does feel like ‘The Sirens Sound’ is one full piece and thus a complete record. Perhaps all it is really missing is an extra dash of dramatic flair or a few more nagging melodies. Thus Collapse Under The Empire have, with ‘The Sirens Sound’ created a record that shows a strong capability of creating entrancing soundscapes but sadly only potential in the actual songwriting department. If Hollywood is looking for new score writers then they could do worse than Collapse Under The Empire. If you are looking for bright new post-rock darlings then this probably won’t be quite what you want.
Stereoboard Album Rating: 6/10
NOTE FROM THE EDITOR
We don't run any advertising! Our editorial content is solely funded by lovely people like yourself using Stereoboard's listings when buying tickets for live events. To keep supporting us, next time you're looking for concert, festival, sport or theatre tickets, please search for "Stereoboard". It costs you nothing, you may find a better price than the usual outlets, and save yourself from waiting in an endless queue on Friday mornings as we list ALL available sellers!
However pleasant the record is at its best (see the excellent ‘Grade Separation’), it always feels like it is just bubbling under. The best of the band’s post-rock contemporaries can be sincerely contemplative and peaceful but also dangerously distressed and downright loud. Even though there are moments in which Collapse Under The Empire do burst into life, such moments are few and far between. Furthermore, when they do arrive, they just aren’t quite explosive enough to make one really sit up and pay attention. The best artists of this genre, the likes of Red Sparowes and Russian Circles, are good enough at songwriting to write songs that act both as epic symphonies and truly memorable songs. Collapse Under The Empire, it is sad to say, either do not have such songwriting ability or they have mislaid it during the recording of this album. Therefore it is with disappointment that, though much of ‘The Sirens Sound’ is enjoyable to listen to, one is forced to conclude that this album is somewhat underwhelming as a whole. 
.jpg)
.jpg)
