Search - Filter :: The Amalgamut

Filter's third album was inspired by a cross-country trip that imbued lead singer Rich Patrick with patriotism and appreciation for both the diversity and sense of freedom he found out on the road. While the recording is purported to be a celebration of that diversity, most of the record hasn't strayed much from the alt-metal template that Filter cut their teeth on back with their 1995 debut. Here are the same teeth-gnashing rants, scatter-gun drumming, and claustrophobic soundscapes that inhabited their first two albums. Patrick, however, has eschewed much of his trademark bloodcurdling screaming in favor of a lush vocal style that would suit an '80s New Romantic frontman. Though it's oddly an industrial band, Filter's best songs almost qualify as power ballads. The gorgeous melodies and moody lyrics of "The Missing" (written on September 11) and the psychedelic pop of "The Only Way Is the Wrong Way" owe more to Smashing Pumpkins than Nine Inch Nails. But even the jarring "American Cliché" and the ragged, downcast "Where Do We Go from Here" veer closer to pop than anything that appeared on the first two albums. The Amalgamut ultimately is a sophisticated and intelligent pop-metal hybrid. --Jaan Uhelszki