AlbumsNovember 29, 201111,556 views

Mouth Of The Architect The Violence Beneath


The Violence Beneath
01. The Violence Beneath 02. Buried Hopes 03. Restore (live) 04. In Your Eyes
2010 Translation Loss Records
Our score 7

by Nick
4/24/2010

After roughly a year and a half since Mouth of the Architect's last record, the band has returned with a four song EP titled The Violence Beneath. At face value, it's a slightly discontinuous collection of recordings; two new studio recordings, an unreleased live track, and a cover song comprise the thirty minute disc. It's heavy, melodic, and massive -- just as one would expect from these dudes. Here's the deal: The lead-off title track and "Buried Hopes" make up the pair of newly recorded originals on the record. "The Violence Beneath" is the instant stand-out on the EP thanks to its noticeable shift in songwriting. Faster tempos and quick moving riffs give it a Baroness feel, though it isn't quite as clean and rock-ish as the material found on Red Album or Blue Record. In fact, the best comparison is probably the mix of sludge and post-metal found on Supercontinent's Vaalbara from a few years back. 2008's Quietly was a good record, but this song is far more commanding and satisfying than most of that album. If it's any indicator as to what we can expect from the band in the future, we're in luck. "Restore" is a live cut coming from the band's stint on a tour with Mastodon roughly three years ago. The instrumentation is just as tight as one would except from a studio recording, and with the small exception of the amp's hissing noise floor during a mid-song break, the sound quality is very respectable. Fun fact: this was snagged when Greg Lahm was still a part of the group, so those still clinging to The Ties That Blind as MOTA's best-to-date -- and yes, I put myself in that category -- will take added interest in the track. Closing the EP is the disc's most debatable content and a definite catalyst for (potentially heated) discussion amongst listeners. You'll recognize the smooth melodies and calm feel of "In Your Eyes" as originally from pop music icon Peter Gabriel, only this time it's loaded down with a healthy dose of distortion and a tasteful spread of backing screams. With an almost shoegazy feel to it and slightly washed out singing, it's a bit more easy going than most of MOTA's previous material, though surprisingly fitting. Personally, I'm still torn over it. On one hand, it's well-executed with a clever spin and rather memorable. But on the other hand, covering pop classics brings the band a small step toward being the Evergreen Terrace of post-metal -- and we all know how difficult it is to take that band seriously. Oh well, you decide. Bottom Line: Thanks to its variety, The Violence Beneath is an interesting listen for Mouth of the Architect fans. Over the course of thirty minutes it delivers a stellar, Baroness-esque track, an older live recording from their The Ties That Blind days, and a cover track that's sure to pique interest. It's not a masterpiece, but it'll work until the next full-length comes along.

32 comments

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zack_ 4/24/2010 4:33:34 PM

Good release. Personally I like the cover song.

standupsixtynine_ 4/24/2010 7:26:01 PM

yea me too. i like this ep.

Dick_ 4/24/2010 11:41:06 PM

f*ck you Nick.

Chi_Stake_ 4/25/2010 1:34:45 AM

Good ep. Fair review. Listen this shit up.

anonymous 4/25/2010 2:38:43 PM

Im a rapist

Godfather_ 4/25/2010 3:02:00 PM

It amazes me that music like is still being pushed.

bobby_ 4/25/2010 6:21:53 PM

Don't get me wrong, Supercontinent was f*cking tight, but I think everybody in the band has moved on so you can stop jerking them off now.

tower_ 4/25/2010 9:03:08 PM

god you are annoying godfather.

chris_ 4/26/2010 9:32:50 AM

First track reminds me of Kruger. I'm digging it!

Dillon_ 4/26/2010 2:14:05 PM

In Your Eyes cover is f*cking amazing, cannot stop listening to it.

War Drum_ 4/27/2010 9:13:40 PM

Love this album, cannot wait for the next full length. And I really dig the cover.

Godfather_ 4/28/2010 6:56:32 AM

I'm annoying because as always I am right, take that as arrogance I don't care. Get over it.

Meep_ 4/28/2010 12:22:21 PM

It amazes me how big of a narrow-minded douchebag Godfather is.

standupsixtynine_ 4/28/2010 2:05:38 PM

yea godfather shut the f*ck up. its being pushed because people still listen and see them live. novel concept eh?

vcreatiov_ 4/29/2010 12:12:40 PM

Godfather, the guy that works at a top 40 bullshit ear cancer radio station in pisstown usa, telling us what good music is. funny.

sperm_ 4/29/2010 5:45:14 PM

this shit sucks as much as this wack ass review.

truth_ 4/29/2010 11:10:26 PM

Sperm is just pissed off because it didn't make it to the egg first.

Godfather_ 4/30/2010 12:05:50 AM

I'm not from pisstown, usa. I'm from assf*ck, cheshire, england. If you've heard of a band there's a good chance I blew them before you heard about them. Now shut up and plow my limey arse.

Godfather_ 4/30/2010 8:52:40 AM

Yeah because the real me would put "limey" So you still lurk vcreationv the gay dad.

Godfather_ 4/30/2010 8:54:11 AM

It amazes me how big of a narrow-minded douchebag Godfather is. posted by Meep () on 4/28/2010 12:22:21 PM "Narrow minded" because this shit is done to death and needed to cease oh say 2 years ago.

Marked_ 4/30/2010 11:19:37 AM

Godfather, you really are one huge piece of shit. Shut the f*ck up already.

yomama_ 5/1/2010 3:23:52 PM

godfather is a limey bitch

Niggle._ 5/10/2010 6:45:09 PM

Sludge music is done to death? LOL.

Godfather_ 5/14/2010 4:51:20 AM

You are all really stupid. I heard of this band way before any of you, and they are shit. Why bother trying to argue with me when it's clear my musical taste is better than yours? Look at my last.fm profile.

dwhdc_ 5/14/2010 4:32:49 PM

Elitist gay acts like a douche and makes stupid ass claims that he can't....typical.

Godfather_ 5/16/2010 1:58:12 AM

That didn't make sense. Bloop suck my doop dee, gay. I'm better than you.

primoose_ 5/17/2010 2:22:30 PM

shitty, shitty review. comparing MOTA to evergreen terrace for a very serious, sumptuous take on a peter gabriel song is absurd. finally a band does a cover that actually changes the style, tempo, and overall sound of the original, but you're going to criticize them because it's popular? lambgoat shows itself to be the arbiter of immaturity in the metal community yet again.

zombiesaretight28_ 5/17/2010 2:45:56 PM

No DuDe I HerD oF DeM FiRsT LiKE 6 YeArs AgO DoOD, Im So f*ckiNg KoO, YOuR AlL NoObS. I sUcK Da BiGgEsT c-ck NoT YoU...... gayg. good band, good album.

Snoop._ 5/19/2010 4:17:58 PM

"Elitist gay acts like a douche and makes stupid ass claims that he can't....typical." Can't what? Back up? That's what I would go with.

Godfather_ 5/22/2010 3:43:20 AM

At least I'm not collecting welfare checks and listening to deathcore. I listen to better music than you, so don't f*cking bother trying to argue, you miserable twat.

PapHimself_ 5/27/2010 3:19:55 PM

Why, WHY, does every tragic gay on this website LOVE sludge metal? Just because all of you asses are over 25 now doesn't mean that you have to like music thats as shitty and boring as you.

anonymous 12/1/2010 4:49:50 PM

I Played the peter gabriel cover on a boombox outside my ex girlfriends window, her dad pulled a shotgun on me, but she laid me later that night. Awesome.