I’m instantly drawn to bands that have intriguing or long names. Without even listening to the first note of the band, I know it’s going to be pushing the boundaries of normalcy in music. Which is why it should be no surprise that TWIABP, in certain spots through this album, remind me of the band ...And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead. Climatic builds and spacy, shoegaze guitars helping you to escape this current world we live in. TWIABP fits that unconventional mold and are difficult to pinpoint to one exact genre so don’t think they are a carbon copy of anyone.
This 11-track full-length released through Epitaph Records is the band’s 5th release and their 4th with the label. This album comes out swinging with the opening track “Dimmed Sun.” Stop/start chugging with hypnotic vocals, atmospheric swells, bass solo, and chaos all are included in this track. The album continues this path with a full swing of emotions that suck the listener in. The ups and downs in dynamics and emotions make this an album to experience in its entirety. The six-piece band uses all the instrumentation and flexibility to their benefit and does it well to create a fully immersed experience. The songs and sound are full, interesting, and engaging. For me, the top three tracks on this release are “Dimmed Sun,” “Se Sufre Pero Se Goza,” and “Beware the Centrist.”
If I’m to be honest, I typically don’t care for clean vocals over heavier music, but TWIABP has the perfect mix with nods to Cave In’s heaviness and droney, shoegaze tendencies. The production on this album is top notch as well, thanks in part to the mastering of Will Putney (guitarist for Fit For An Autopsy, End, and Better Lovers. Dreams of Being Dust is an album you’ll need in the collection if you’re a fan of good songwriting, shoegaze with tastefully sprinkled in metallic hardcore, and screamo thrown in for good measure that you can turn on and listen from beginning to end.
