Review by Rachel Jablonski
Synthesize elements of 30 Seconds to Mars, Sevendust, and Static-X. Twist in distinct electronic sound. Add in a pinch of Dave Mustaine. What do you get? No, not a symphony of destruction, but rather an engaging electronic rock demo entitled “Anatomy of a Failure.” Perhaps more impressive than the dense riffs, full vocals, and electronic textures involved, is the fact that this collage of sound is the very first effort ever from Thirty Seconds of Shame out of Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
Sharp, rhythmic guitars and bass consistently produce a heavy edged backdrop throughout the demo. Complementary vocals, mysteriously resembling Dave Mustaine of Megadeth at times, are thus allowed to be clear and precise. The percussion is brisk as well, but frequently overshadowed by sampling and programming which tends to be the dominating element of the entire demo.
“Solace” begins with 10 seconds of pulsating electronic squeaks before breaking into a heavy riff resembling a similar rhythmic pattern. Tempo changes between verse and chorus produce a stimulating fracture from predictability. Various sampled sounds are unanticipated yet prominent towards the middle of the song producing an electronic solo of sorts. Crisp drums eventually interrupt the electronics followed by a thick guitar riff. “Tune it in chill out drop dead I need a fix” this portion of the song screams to me. The rhythmic heaviness is very similar to that of “Fix” by Static-X. Nonetheless, the song is quite original with its mixed and varied sections ending in a substantial scream.
In regard to timing and sound choice, sampling seems to work quite well through most of the album. However, there are points in the demo where these electronics seem to be just too much. “Just Like Superman” starts out sounding great until distraction from the chorus becomes evident. Electronic sounds overtop competing vocals disappointingly upset the flow of the song ruining an otherwise well-written piece.
“Job’s song” is without a doubt my favorite track on the demo. One of the darker tracks, heavy guitars and drowning bass are stifling. Any sampling used sinks into the song almost unnoticed, yet adds definite solidity overall.
Thirty Seconds of Shame have caught my attention with their demo “Anatomy of a Failure.” Though there are improvements that could be made, particularly on the electronic sampling end, I definitely look forward to hearing more from this band in the future.