ninehertz

A Philadelphian two-piece, Deathbird Earth arrive touted in more than one location I see as “genre-defying”, although that is often heralded and then not backed up. Here though, on Objective Consciousness, their new album (mastered by James Plotkin), it holds true in interesting ways.

The first half of the album is bewildering in the best of ways. Opener Take My Blood sets out a noise-rock stall, although perhaps not as raucously as you might expect, with a quieter passage and faint samples. When it gets heavier it is in a Melvins style manner, with an unusual but cool psychedelic overarching accompanying atmosphere. Not long after, on Mission: Planet Y, they switch to a synth led instrumental, a surprising but not unwelcome change.

They begin to blend these two elements together, into space prog noise-rock wonder, like a cosmic Big Business which is an intriguing proposition, and, when it works, such as on Resources 2.0, they really tap into something new and electric.

It doesn’t always click though, sadly. The second half of the album is less enticing and doesn’t quite pull off the marriage that looked destined for eternity earlier on, even when they go a bit doomier here and there. It ends well though, signing off on a deserved up tick, with Time III’s punk beginning – like the Beastie Boys’ hardcore phase in spirit – and a tangible energy that you only really ever hear from duos. It turns once more to a sax assisted proggy middle, before one final blast before its end.

It’s a shame the momentum of the beginning doesn’t last album wide (to my ears at least) as this was really building into something great. Nevertheless, there’s clearly a fearless go-anywhere approach to Deathbird Earth that is impossible not to admire, and there’s more than enough in here to get excited about.