A Place To Bury Strangers - "Worship" (2012)

This album was one of the Christmas presents I received from my family, always a nice surprise, especially as my wife has no idea what she's buying. This was a new band to me, and to her. Apparently, they have been given the title New York's loudest band. I can hear why.

This was the three man band's third album, and the listener gets exposed to a veritable auditory crushing. Grinding and tearing guitars dominate, played through various effects, which cut right into your marrow. The album has some kind of 80s feel to it, and it somewhat resembles Sisters Of Mercy or Jesus and Mary Chain, in a more extreme version. Shoegazing is a definition that's often used for the band's music, there is something dreamy about the songs in the middle of the noise, and sometimes I think this would be Spiritualized and Smashing Pumpkins if they made music together.

At first, I had difficulties with the record, it was too brutal and loud, it was difficult to discern what was under the noise. But the more I listen to it, the better I like it. If you have become somewhat friends with the sound, then the songs are pretty good. Despite this, the opening song on side B, Dissolved, is probably my favorite, as it's the album's quietest, and closest to what can be described as easily accessible. Overall, a rather difficult and dark record, which is definitely a challenge. Allmusic uses the following adjectives for the album's mood: Aggressive, Druggy, Hypnotic, Volatile, Atmospheric, Dramatic, Intense, Trippy, Cathartic and Tense / Anxious. From this perspective, the music is either very broad and all-embracing, or totally schizophrenic.


Tracklist

Side A
1 Alone 2:27
2 You Are The One 4:09
3 Mind Control 3:14
4 Worship 3:55
5 Fear 4:51
6 Why I Can't Cry Anymore 3:41

Side B
1 Dissolved 5:23
2 Revenge 5: 5
3 And I'm Up 3:46
4 Slide 3:39
5 Leaving Tomorrow 4:16