The album Rosetta fans needed to hear
D. Anthony Kerr | 10/01/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Having never fully recovered from the effects of the Galilean Satellites (not that I wanted to) I was wary of what Wake/Lift would bring. It is readily apparent in the first ten seconds of Red in Tooth and Claw, the album's opener. They wasted no time in punishing me just as I wanted to be. The main thing that has changed in this album, for me, is that Rosetta doesn't follow the old parlor trick of spending minutes building up to a crushing climax to achieve an emotion anymore - they don't need to.....unless its the right time. Rosetta has found a way to evoke that same intensity at their leisure, literally anytime it is necessary. Red in Tooth and Claw, though not my favorite on the album, is quite literally a perfect song, flowing along from start to finish covering every base you can think of, from crushing, heavy passages to the cascading soundscapes that Rosetta has most become known for. No less than three times in the song did I feel the same excitement that I used to feel in the ending passages of Europa, and at the same time the boys make me want to break down and cry as the whispering melodies of Itinerant did. As any listener of TGS knows, the drums in Rosetta are simply astounding, and that level of intricacy can be found in several moments here. You will not be disappointed. The song is exactly the right length - normally you don't want good things to end, but you know that the ending is perfectly fitting for such a triumph in songwriting.
The next song, Lift (Parts 1, 2, and 3), is certainly my favorite on the album. The opening with its delay-soaked, layered guitars and wonderful bass line create one of the more memorable passages in recent heavy history, and admittedly, if it were to go on infinitely, I don't think I could be disappointed. Part 1 is, on its own, an amazing song, and a good indication of things to come...when the full-on assault Rosetta commands hits you you will not soon forget it, and serves as one of the highest of the many high points on the album. The way Part 1 flows into the soothing melodies and samples of Part 2 is quite amazing, and, though Part 2 is entirely an ambient piece, you will hardly be distracted. Your reward for your attention to Parts 1 and 2 is the crushing climax of part 3. Initially echoing melodies explored in part 1 and 2, then setting you up for one of the three heaviest moments on the album and finally delivering with a brilliant, down-tuned, sludgy riff that will make you think that the band was just warming up when they wrote Au Pays Natal.
Wake, probably the most popular song on the album, is actually my least favorite, but that is not to say that it is a dismissible song. In fact, some of the most interesting guitar work seen in experimental metal can be found throughout the song, coupled with intense rhythm and vocal passages any Rosetta fan will feel right at home listening to Wake. The reason I don't rate it as highly as the other songs is that it is here that Rosetta proves that they can still be the epic build-up, punishing climax band that is clogging up the underground heavy music scene lately. Not that they don't do it well...even better than seen on TGS, but I felt almost like they were making a commentary on their own work in the past, or maybe just reworking it. The end, as you may come to expect from Rosetta, is brilliant, and another of the heaviest moments on the album, maybe even trumping that which comes in Monolith.
Tement Noise, Wake/Lift's longest, and purely ambient track, is the true test for the listener. In the right setting Tement Noise can be the most soothing, calming and emotional song on the album - think studying in the library or driving home in the rain after a long day of work or school. The repetition is taxing, but beautifully perplexing, and, maybe intentionally, serves as the best possible preparation for Monument.
Like Red in Tooth and Claw Rosetta wastes no time stating their agenda with Monument, the album's closer. Simply the heaviest moment on the album, the initial drone-doom riff and powerful vocals have reserved a place in my memory for the rest of time. Rather than follow suit with the rest of their musical niche, they end the album on a high note with repeating guitar melodies and soothing silence from the rest of the band that, when the album begins its cycle again, set you up to give the whole thing another listen.
The intensity of The Galilean Satellites, an album that changed the way I look at music, seemed like the perfect setup for failure. How they managed to top it is beyond me, but as their split with Balboa proved, Rosetta is not a one, two, or even three trick pony. They are, arguably, the most creative band in heavy music today, and my best bet for the new flag carriers of the genre. Recording the album in analog, moving the vocals back into the mix, and removing most of the metal crunch from the guitars didn't stop them from creating on of the most sonically heavy albums I've ever heard. While TGS holds a special place in my heart, and would probably be the one I chose were I forced to pick between the two, it is absolutely no stretch of the words for me to declare Wake/Lift the superior album, and one of the most notable albums of the genre over the last ten years. A Rosetta fan [wouldn't need to read this before purchasing] will find everything they wanted from the follow up of such an amazing debut, and a fan of bands like Battlefields, Tides, Mouth of the Architect and even Isis will likely be right at home."
Even better than the first album!
W. Nienke | Dallas, TX USA | 09/10/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"If you like Isis and Mouth of the Architect you'll love this album. The vocals are well back in the mix and like most post-metal are unintelligable anyway. They just add some angst to the epic riffs that progress over time through each song. Unlike one of the other reviews, I think this album was produced better than the first. It seems to have more layers of sound, especially with headphones. I've been listening to this album for over a week straight both in the truck and at work on my headphones and I hear new things all the time. I think a lot people disgard post-metal as just a bunch of noise, but its just very complicated and dense - it takes many listens to really get into it. I think my favorite song at the moment is Lift Pt 3. One of the shorter songs on the album it hits pretty hard."
A must have for anyone who likes post metal
usefulidiot | PA | 01/05/2008
(4 out of 5 stars)
"This is a great album. I only gave it 4 stars because TGS is absolutely perfect. It took some getting used to the way this album was produced because the vocals are much more part of the soundscape now instead of seperate from the noise and distortion as they were on TGS. I love how the album literally picks up where TGS left off. Wake is easily the best song on the album, but red in tooth and claw is not far behind. Lyrics on this album are not as important, or don't really tell a story like they did on TGS. For a good portion of songs Mike just repeats some lines of lyrics, and it seems that he is just being a part of the music instead of the leader with his vocals. I really like his voice and how TGS was produced better than this album, but it did not dissapoint."
Track Listings (7) - Disc #1
