Kingdom Of Rust Review

Released: Apr 6, 2009
Genre: Indie Rock
Label: Heavenly / Astralwerks
Number Of Tracks: 11
Symphonic rockers, Doves have returned with their latest release, Kingdom Of Rust from Astralwerks.

Sound:	8.5
Lyrics:	7.5
Impression:	8.5
Overall rating:	8.2
Users rating:	8.5
Comments:	6

overall: 7.7

Featured review by: sweetpeasuzie, on april 10, 2009

Sound: Symphonic rockers, Doves have returned with their latest release, Kingdom Of Rust from Astralwerks. Fronted by lead singer/bass guitarist Jimi Goodwin and supported by multi-instrumentalist brothers Andy and Jez Williams, Doves have re-kindled the saplings of dream-pop arced rock fostered by their Manchester, England brethren, Joy Division. Doves acquired a global following with the release of their third album Some Cities in 2005, and since then their voluminous epic sound has become their calling card showing similar spacey-symphonic-atmospherics relatable to Coldplay and Radiohead. That stamp is still a vital part of Doves-sound drawing out a double-edged blade that wheedles billowing plumes of synth-textured guitar effects sliced by fibrillating spokes of Kraftwerk-coned club beats. The band’s plush atmospherics and hard-edged beats have a limberness that make their symphonic layers bend and soar in glorious wavelets, and then sands their sonic spoors into an eerie country tremor in the title track and in “The Greatest Denier.“ The wonderland atmospherics of “Winter Hill” and “Jetstream” are graveled in scintillating effects, and flint serenade-like shimmers paneling “10:03.” The soft flowy orchestral lines of “Birds Flew Backwards” have a fragile brushing moving in channels of circular motions, and evolve into the symphonic billows cabling “Spellbound” and “Lifelines” which are knotted into reclining slopes, and the clanging beats of “The Outsiders” and “House Of Mirrors” are shadowed in morose Monastery-pitched passages. The band balances optimism and dismay, giving in to neither one more than the other. // 8

Lyrics and Singing: Goodwin still has a ghostly whining in his register that always reminds me of Hamlet’s father when he comes his son to ask to avenge his death in Shakespeare’s iconic play. It’s a soft voice that carries the type of ominous authority which no one would say no to. The lyrics showcase Goodwin’s tendency to plead and reach for higher ground like in “Birds Flew Backwards” when his voice spears through the clouds of smoky orchestral mists, “Birds flew backwards… Winter seemed to linger / Now the swallows have arrived / Won’t be long til summertime.” The lyrics have a tendency to be metaphorical and yearn for the happier pastures that exist over the horizon like in “10:03” when Goodwin ruminates, “Calling out your name... You still burn into the night / Like a moth to the flame / I will turn back again... I’ll return to your side.. 10:03 on a fast train.” // 7

Impression: The music has plenty of ambient shadows and misty figments that move in psychedelic patterns without making the listener too nauseous from being invaded by the band’s sonic fumes and glossy silhouettes. The atmospherics are tailored with pinwheel effects that grow and deflate in mesmerizing swirls, and towering beats which are coiled into harmonious forms. Doves may share many qualities with Radiohead and Coldplay’s music, but the band is an entirely different beast. Meaning, just because you like Radiohead’s songs does not mean that you will like Doves’ album, and vice versa. Kingdom Of Rust packs a production with an epic sound that is down to earth with eyes looking up to the sky. Bridging the gap between wondrous fantasies and nightmarish happenings, Doves music shows an awareness of both life and death with arms reaching out for the portals that lead to bliss while their feet are embedded in reality. // 8

overall: 8.7

Reviewed by: TLO421, on april 13, 2009

Sound: Doves are back and better than ever. I would only do a review on a CD I believe is worth reviewing in that people need to know the extent of talent put into this CD. So here it goes...

The sound is unique, but very relatable to other bands. Their sound is comparable to many alternative/indie rock bands. It is composed of a deeper feel to it that conveys emotion and the sound is deffinatly not one to be a first time understanding. At times, Doves gives feel good tracks that have beats and riffs that are deffinatly head-bobbers with tracks such as "Compulsion," "Jetstream," and "House Of Mirrors," but convey heavy emotion with tracks such as "Kingdom Of Rust," "10:03," and "Winter Hill". Band member Jez Williams explained it as "schizophrenic, but... Also strangely cohesive." Oddly enough, with most tracks, it came out greatly. Whether you are into cool riffs or if your looking for something to give you goosebumps at the emotion in the song, this is deffinatly a good pick. // 9

Lyrics and Singing: Singer and bassist Jimi Goodwin is a great singer and conveys lyrics brilliantly through his voice. This past December Jimi's father passed away making this album even heavier on the heart and more meaningful. The lyrics to the song "Kingdom Of Rust" should have you emotionally attached to the song, while some songs are lyrically strong, but overshadowed by the sound of the music at times. At times lyrics aren't even needed and Jimi could just hum everything he sings and the message would still be conveyed. That is talented singing and the songwriting, although not being to the extent of the greatest ever, are probably some of the better lyrics I've heard out of all modern era bands. The lyrics convey a sense of dreariness, eeriness, skitzophrenia, paranoia, grief, excitement, hope, despair, and basically any other deep emotion you could possibly think of. One willing to dig down and fully absorb the music and lyrics will not be let down at all. // 8

Impression: Ok overall impression... This CD is a must have! By far one of my favorite albums of modern era bands, and if you are familiar with Doves, saying it is among their best should completely motivate you. Their heavy sound at times makes it impossible to rest your body still and the smooth mellow songs take you on an emotional journey as the epic climax increases and fully becomes an explosion of feeling. Here's a bottom line song by song analysis:

01."Jetstream": Jez Williams sings this song with a very cool tone of voice. The quick symbols heavy bass drum and exciting climax leaves a great impression on your mind and makes you anxious to hear what else is to offer on the CD.
02."Kingdom Of Rust": best track on the album hands down. Lyrically the strongest, musically the strongest, emotionally makes you get goosebumps. This song should be listened to multiple times to absorb the full impact and once you listen to it, it will be a song you find yourself skipping to many times.
03."The Outsiders": very cool begining that reminds me of "On The Run" by Pink Floyd from DSOTM. It then kicks in with a very cool melody and standard cool Doves riff that holds up the tempo on the album very well.
04."Winter Hill": cool riff that could take some getting used to. The riff is almost like an odyssey on the guitar going from low to high high to low and just a blindfolded roller coaster ride I think of it as. Sound is deep and holds up the album great. Lyrically not the strongest but deffinatly one of the better songs.
05."10:03": another song that should be listened to multiple times. Starts off slow and then climaxes later which turns into a surprisingly better song than I thought when I first started listening to the song. The backup vocals, for me, make the song. If anyone is familiar with Interpol and their last track to Our Love To Admire, this song is deep like "The Lighthouse" was and the backing vocals make both the songs eerie but deep.
06."The Greatest Denier": fun song to listen to. Great song but typical Doves (not a bad thing, though, since they are a great talented group) Not too much to say with this one.
07."Birds Flew Backwards": again typical Doves. Slower and not much of a standout. Nevertheless, good song still.
08."Spellbound": this song starts picking it back up. The Acoustic strumming seems typical, but the electric riff and vocals really make this song one to return to later on after the best ones are worn down.
09."Compulsion": bass riff is like no other. This song is the most skitzophrenic-esque song and vocals were eerie and are the icing on the cake. This song will be a catchy noise heard in your head for a while with the incredible bass riff and symbol playing.
10."House Of Mirrors": this one I'm suprised hasn't raised more commotion. This song is similar to Doves older song "Pounding". It's high energy creates a feel like no other. Very cool open for interpretation lyrics are good, but first few times listening to the song one will be too busy thrusting their head up and down and bouncing their foot. Look for this one to stand out to anyone who listens to it. Deep yet with a heavy beat to attract a wide variety of music listeners. This will be one of your favorite songs guaranteed.
11."Lifelines": slow and not fully memorable, but the lyrics and vocals make this a great finish to the album, although if you like this album to this point and are like me, then it won't feel like the end since it will be an album that you must start over and listen to again because you can't get enough. This song sends off the CD in a way more like a controlled calm way, which is the way Doves do things, so it's very fitting.

So overall, great CD one of Doves best in my opinion. Pick up this CD because it's a must have and one that I couldn't be able to listen to and forget. If you are a musician, the controlled energy and controlled epic climax should be a heavy influence and as far as deep feel and sound go, Doves crushed this one out of the ballpark. Pick it up today. // 9

Comments

[cyborg_monkey]

dude, wtf is that? were you high when you wrote this?

this is supposed to be a review, not you showing off your english my making an album sound as poetic as possible.

i mean, its nice stuff, but it gives us no real idea of what the musics like. heres a good example:

The music has plenty of ambient shadows and misty figments that move in psychedelic patterns without making the listener too nauseous from being invaded by the band’s sonic fumes and glossy silhouettes.

what does that mean? it tells us nothing about the music, its just vague flighty description.
either be a ****ing poet, or write a music review.
what youve done tries to be both, and ends up as neither

ps. sorry about how scathing this comment is, but i felt obliged to say it. hope i dont hurt your feelings

[jammyninja]

All their other reviews are similar, and they post band myspaces in their blog. Reeks of corporate to me, would like a proper review of this so I actually know what to expect.

[BloodPheasant]

Having listened to the album plenty of times already, I can't find anything wrong with this description. I feel it accurately portrays the band and the music, although in different form. Sure, "billowing plumes of synth-textured guitar" is a little ostentatious, but you seriously can't gather from that sentence that their music is decorated with synth guitar and 80's club beats?

Try not to take everything literally and pick out key words like "soft" "optimism" "synth" "epic" etc., and you should have a good idea of what it's like.

[pigmaggots]

http://www.godisinthetvzine.co.uk/content/content_detail.php ?id=3110&type=Singles

[Melkord]

BloodPheasant wrote:

Having listened to the album plenty of times already, I can't find anything wrong with this description. I feel it accurately portrays the band and the music, although in different form. Sure, "billowing plumes of synth-textured guitar" is a little ostentatious, but you seriously can't gather from that sentence that their music is decorated with synth guitar and 80's club beats?

Try not to take everything literally and pick out key words like "soft" "optimism" "synth" "epic" etc., and you should have a good idea of what it's like.

I really, really hope you're joking...

[irotinmyskin]

jetstream is the best song! amazing amazing!