There has not been a band that has intrigued me more over this past summer than The Receiving End of Sirens. I was surprised to see them at this past Bumbershoot, having been under the notion that the Boston-based experimental rock quintet had dropped off the face of the planet (their last release, "Between the Heart and Synapse", over two years old). Not only was TREOS present on the Exhibition Hall stage, but they played an incredible show. I would later learn that their "hiatus" had been spent working on their second masterpiece under Triple Crown Records, "The Earth Sings Mi Fa Mi", which I promptly picked up. And, boy oh boy...



The opening track, "Swallow People Whole", really sets the tone of the whole album. The mystical tone, the epic guitar riffs, and the industrial beats fuse together beautifully, creating one rich ambience out of a smorgasbord of busy sounds. The extraordinary vocal duet of Brendan Brown and Alex Bars act as the icing on the cake. "Within me there's a gaping hole...and no one, or thing, can fill this empty space that I've been pacing..." they sing, with a majesty that rivals even the likes of Emery.



However, before one can become lulled in to the mystical euphoria, the band quickly transitions to a more progressive sound. "Oubliette (Disappear)" and "The Crop and the Pest" exhibit a bit more fortissimo to keep the listeners honest, while also showing that TREOS has not forgotten its roots, namely, the trippy, almost-hardcore-but-not-quite breakdowns that made "Between the Heart and the Synapse" so groundbreaking.



But without a doubt, "Smoke and Mirrors" is the most epic track "Mi Fa Mi" has to offer. An ominous keyboard tune opens, and a heavier progression of chords follows. The dark feel of the track really fits with the story the track, as Brown and Bars sing of their resistance to the enticing beckon of an unknown temptation, using the metaphor of the wolf in sheep's clothing. "Even though you hide your fangs so cleverly dear, you sing songs so prettily dear, your most gentle call, your most soothing song won't lead this sheep astray."



Having not heard much of The Receiving End of Sirens until recently, I was very pleased with "The Earth Sings Mi Fa Mi." TREOS really exhibited one of the most creative sounds I have heard in some time, bringing together a busy array of components into one epic symphony that is not only easy on the ears, but rough on the strings as well. Great release! Fans of Emery, Monty Are I, Circa Survive, The Sounds of Animals Fighting, and The Fall of Troy may soon dub The Receiving End of Sirens their new favorite band.