The Fall of Troy - Doppelganger

The Fall of Troy
Doppelganger
Equal Vision Records
Grade: A-

Getting past the rather unfortunate moniker, The Fall of Troy’s debut for EVR is something special, something that will leave you exhausted and neurally-challenged for at least several hours. The hard work that you will spend listening to the eleven-track, flailing music fast is paid off in spades as you feel as though you just witnessed how the seemingly random thrown together actually sounds tightly woven. That means they take their local-brethren Botch and Blood Brothers heavy spasm and lace it with spiraling rock that takes on amorphous forms at all times. What is more impressive is the FT are only a three-piece. Said what? That’s right, Thomas Erak (vocals/guitars), Tim Ward (bass/vocals) and Andrew Forsman (drums) develop an impressively thick and developed sound with the most minimal composition. All bands that use three guitars to chug along to power chords should be struck down by a Norse god as they front their utility. FT put all of those bands to shame and makes you keenly question whether the trio can really pull this rock explosion live. The one-sheet discusses how FT’s shows are more free-form than not and are blistering – though every one-sheet says the bands live show is ‘infectious.’ In this instance, I’m inclined to believe the info. As Doppelganger opens on “I Just Got This Symphony Goin’” you aren’t thinking much as FT fly through spastic hardcore. The sound changes to more melodic pronouncements in both voice and instruments, but still you aren’t in love. The following “Act One, Scene One” introduces us to the catchy moments FT can offer as well as high-pitched ‘R&B’ vocals – and it is hear that you to start to realize that Doppelganger is different from the other billion and one song compositions. The more psychedelic guitars (read: Mars Volta) come in on “F.C.P.R.E.M.I.X” and the band illustrates how they can be catchy and cool at the same time. Without doubt, the more spaced-out guitars and melodicness of “F.C.P.R.E.M.I.X” helps it battle for the prize of best song. Similar feelings come across on “You Got A Death Wish, Johnny Truant?,” while “Mouths Like Sidewinder Missiles” brings us back to the heavily segmented Fall of Troy. “The Hol[]y Tape…” merely holds the fort and “Laces Out, Dan!” finds Erak echoing vocals like melodic contemporaries. “We Better Learn To Hotwire a Uterus” is straight-out hardcore, while FT challenge Botch and Converge for machine-gun guitars on “Whacko Jacko Steals the Elephant Man’s Bones” helping it secure a top spot. Doppelganger closes on the short “Tom Waits” and the eight-minute “Macaulay McCulkin.” While FT go for the esoteric on “Macaulay McCulkin” it shows who they can go prog if they so desire. With little thought, the Fall of Troy’s Doppelganger is one of the few recent records I’ve heard that effectively includes an enormous swath of sounds into a cohesive sound. This is a band on the move!