Search - Ego Likeness :: Breedless

Best work to date.

Raymond Thompson | Chicago, IL | 04/13/2010

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Before starting the review, I will make a full disclosure that I am a big fan of Ego Likeness and have been anticipating this album for a long time, since May of last year actually when they mentioned a new album was coming out within the year. So I may be a bit biased. That said, I also tell it like it is, and if I don't like a favorite of mine's music, I'll say so, because not everything will be good. As a fan of Ego, there are songs from Dragonfly, Order of the Reptile and Water to the Dead that I don't care for. Not many, but a few.



All that being said, I received Breedless, the new Ego Likeness album in the mail awhile back. I opened it with a bit of trepidation, as I wondered if it could possibly live up to the hype and to Steven's belief that it was their best work to date. That always makes me a bit nervous because I have heard bands say that, when it turned out that wasn't the case. My fears were put to rest almost immediately.



The opening measures of Sirens and Satellites is a call to arms right off the bat. It pulls you in and you can hear the passion, the rhythm of the music. Not only does it rock you, it has a very danceable feel to it as well. The best song on the album, in my opinion. From there, the band proceeds with anthems like Breedless, the title track, and the Lowest Place on Earth, to the sorrowful Song for Samael and the epic closer Thiry-Year War which features Donna's vocals at their finest.



Steven's programming and guitars have taken another turn for the better. Both are more focused, a tighter feeling. Inferno, a frenetic song is one of the most intense and in your face songs that the band has done. Séance and South are good blends of previous works with the new found intensity.



The music on this disc is more dark than most of their previous work. All their work has always been intense and somewhat dark, but this time around you can feel even more anger and sadness at the way the world is and the demons that haunt us.



I would be remiss to leave out the mixing work of Dan Clark, who did an excellent job with Everything is Poison in particular and for helping make the songs work even better.



In closing, I would have to say that this album is the culmination of all of Donna Lynch's and Steven Archer's work in Ego Likeness. Clocking in at 55 minutes, this CD takes you on a wild ride through the imaginations of Ego Likeness which will leave you exhausted yet wanting even more. If you are a fan of dark wave or dark electronic rock, you need to get this. Even if you just like rock, you should definitely give this a listen.



Grade: A"