It's never easy to be a band today with many disparate influences. Today's groups are trying to become immortal or are at the very least play music that they want to hear. But the fact is that there have been so many classic bands so far that have provided us with awe-inspiring albums that it's so hard to top. So what do you do if you have influences from all aspects of heavy music and want that to show? You don't have to be better than the classics because I believe that most of the time it's just important to try hard. However it's not easy to put together a cohesive whole out of an entire domain of modern rock and metal.
Light Pupil Dilate try and they actually succeed. They claim to be inspired by acts as separate as Slayer, Yes, Hot Water Music, and Fugazi. And all of these shine through in Snake Wine very clearly but it all seems to be a part of a thought out process of creation rather than simply showing of their prowess. Light Pupil Dilate can have blast beats, melodic choruses, and mellow introspective jams and it can be all within one song but what is most important here is that everything fits. The songs don't turn into a shambles of self-indulgence but make complete sense and add to a whole.
Especially the calm, post-rock like breakdown in "Selfless," which is so gorgeous that it makes your eyes water and the wish for more bands to utilize some mellowness becomes greater than usual.
Think of bands such as Baroness and Mastodon and you will not be too far of. These bands share more than their home state of Georgia, such as the will to create some original music and gain notoriety through exploration. That may not always bring them wealth because what they create is not easily digested but it will bring them cult followings and admiration. Songs like "Shower me With Your Love" which are pure chaotic Converge-like hardcore and are nerve wrecking are still rewarding listens. It may not be perfect and can on occasion sound a tad sloppy but that is only a minor criticism.
The dual vocal usage throughout Snake Wine works well but, as can often be the case when this is used, there is one singer that sounds better than the other but that doesn't have a detrimental effect in this case, at least not in my opinion. Instead it adds to the character of the recording. What vocals others might prefer, if any at all, I'll leave up to them to decide.
I will just settle with saying that this is an accomplished and heavy album that includes most of my favorite kinds of music and is done with enough quality to warrant many more listens in the future.
