The Autumn Effect

The Autumn Effect opens with "Waking Up," a surgically perfect union of Tool and Incubus. 10 Years vocalist Jesse Hasek wails with the earnestness of Brandon Boyd, but also draws from the persistent tension in Maynard James Keenan's delivery. Musically, 10 Years' songs do much the same thing. They feature echoey, dripping-water guitar lines that splash into giant choruses, combining the arty darkness of Tool or Deftones with post-grunge's need for a big melodic payoff. "Cast It Out" is a great example of this, as is "Half Life." Staind and Static-X producer Josh Abraham gives Autumn Effect a serviceably crisp sound, and 10 years is enamored enough of their big payoff choruses to focus more on them than the mental darkness permeating the verses. "Through the Iris" is another highlight; the band also gets ambitious with the closing title track, which clocks in at nearly ten minutes and implodes into a primordial ooze of proto-Coil gloom. ~ Johnny Loftus

今年4月にコーンのサポートで初来日、さらには〈サマソニ〉で再来日を果たす5人組のメジャー・デビュー・アルバム。失礼ながらまったく予備知識がなかったのだが、ポッと出のバンドだとナメてかかるとコレは痛い目に遭うぞ!　オルタナ～エモ～ヘヴィー・ロックのド真ん中に位置するサウンドだが、なかなかどうしてこの儚くも美しいメロディーは秀逸。ステインドあたりのファンは必聴。とにかく暗いが、その暗さがイイ! 　　　
bounce (C)菅原 亮