I remember being pleasantly surprised by
Mister Kite's single, The hunger which I found quite intriguing. After having listened to the full album for the past month I'm still intrigued, but not quite as strongly. Box of fear is a good (concept?) album that as far as I can tell deals with a person suffering from some severe social problems, but it has a hard time holding my attention all the way through.
Modern Rock is as close as I can come to label the music, but that may be a little unfair. The production gives the music a raw and dry sound while the use of some electronic elements add to the more "modern" sound. A slow brooding atmosphere runs through the album and it is underlinded very well by the bleak artwork in the booklet.
Heavy guitar riffs, excellent drum work and Alf Wemmenlind's pretty intense vocals are the things that stand out. Not exactly being happy music, this is an album that will either creep up on you slowly and win you over or leave you cold. Box of Fear is something I have to sit down and really listen to, to get the most from the music.
It is hard to pick a specific song as a favorite as they all work together to create the whole of the album. Some listening tips include the two songs from the single
The hunger and
How long but also the opener
From this day should give you an idea of what to expect. The chorus in this song is quite catchy and works well. The same cannot be said of
Into nothing, which starts out very interesting and creates a relaxed atmosphere before it is taken over by a chorus I find very irritating. Luckily this one is the only time I felt that way.
Other highlights include the catchy
I know you know with an almost trance-like middle section and
In this room where Alf's vocals do a big difference. He sings with a lot of emotion and the atmosphere is kept intact throughout the song.
State has some great guitar work that keeps that particular song interesting.
One of my main problems with the album is the lack of variation. Sometimes the patient rythm of the music just tires me out. It is definitely a very mood-dependent album, if that makes any sense.
If you're looking for something beyond the Metal realm and don't mind some alternative melancholic rock then
Mister Kite is definitely worth checking out. Just don't expect the album to grab you from the first listen.
Written by
Steen Saturday, March 20, 2004
Show all reviews by SteenRatingsSteen: 6/10Members: No members have rated this album yet.
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