What's Next in modern rock?
Written: Sep 12 '02 (Updated May 19 '07)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Development in songwriting and vocals, a drift away from Tool's sound
Cons: Continued Tool derivations, short album
The Bottom Line: This is a solid album that expands upon Chevelle's strengths as a band. Worth a look for fans of Tool and Helmet as well as nu-metalheads.
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| punkrawka's Full Review: Wonder What's Next by Chevelle |
Chevelle dropped Point #1 in 1999 to little fanfare, and to many brush-offs proclaiming the band little more than a clone of all-time hard rock greats Tool. While vocalist/guitarist Pete Loeffler's voice gave this theory some credence, much of the genuine talent on Point #1 went unnoticed because of it, and the band is back to prove it with a new label and a new album entitled Wonder What's Next.
The first thing that any long-time listener notices in the opening track "Family System" is Loeffler's expanded vocal repertoire, which now includes an angrier, more metal-twinged scream than the debut featured. This track grinds from a quiet riff with a chilling falsetto intro straight into grinding riffs and screams, resulting in slightly bumpy transitions but exemplifying the album's soon-to-be-forthcoming strengths.
The high points of this album integrate Loeffler's new vocal strengths with some impressively well-constructed tunes. "Comfortable Liar" competently rebuilds one of the band's very first songs into a dynamic tune that lets the guitars ring out quietly before the choruses, highlights the churning bass in the middle, and explodes into an all-out screamfest by its ending. "Closure," the album's strongest single moment, uses heartfelt, melodic verses and dynamic guitar distortions to highlight passionate lyrics: "Hold my breath 'till you brush your feelings aside / Your rebirth can't hurt / Branch out behind pride." "Don't Fake This" blasts from completely uncluttered, quiet guitars into crushing choruses where Loeffler bars not one ounce of passion.
The rest of the album's tracks provide solid support for the more stellar moments just mentioned. The first single, "The Red," uses perfectly excuted backing melodies to keep itself fresh throughout. "Forfeit" gives Loeffler an excuse to scream a lot more frequently than the average track here permits, without sounding tired or overdone.
Only a couple of tracks stumble at all. The album's title track is accentuated by a relatively uninteresting guitar/bass line, and the vocals don't quite manage to make up the difference. "An Evening With El Diablo" is capable enough, but features no special vocal or instrumental strengths compared to most of the clean, impressive tracks found here. Finally, the album's closing track, "One Lonely Visitor," is a fairly contrived attempt to mimic the success of solo acoustic tracks from the likes of Staind's Aaron Lewis. While it's obviously heartfelt, it's also becoming cliche and is not executed in any stellar manner.
The final point worth mentioning here is that the album is disappointingly short - only eleven tracks. Factor out the few weak moments, and you're left thirsting for more of the outstanding material that the band has just proven themselves capable of creating.
Length notwithstanding, though, Chevelle has altogether constructed an album as interesting and passionate as it is developmental. Fans of many disparate sounds will find something to like here, from Tool to nu-metal in general to some twinges of classic rock and other influences. Wonder What's Next is definitely an album worth more of a look than its predecessor was ever given.
Chevelle Discography
Point #1 (1999)
Wonder What's Next (2002)
Live From the Road (2003)
This Type of Thinking (Could Do Us In) (2004)
Vena Sera (2007)
Recommended:
Yes
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punkrawka
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