[cd] A Place To Bury Strangers: "Exploding Head"

Cost: 0.00

It didn't take long for A Place To Bury Strangers to gain notoriety. After forming in 2003, they were tagged as New York's "loudest band" thanks to chaotic live performances that constantly pushed ear-splitting guitar squalls and dizzying strobe lights to their limits. While their 2007 self-titled debut took shoegaze and turned it up to 11, it was essentially a collection of the band's early material repackaged and remastered. On the absolutely stunning Exploding Head, the trio of singer/guitarist, Oliver Ackermann, bassist, Jono MOFO, and drummer, Jay Space realize their full potential. Sure, the Jesus And Mary Chain and My Bloody Valentine influences still linger, but the band's underlying sense of melody overcomes the noise letting some surf rock twang ("Deadbeat") and tribal rhythms ("Lost Feeling") balance out the feedback. Check out the album's addictive first single, "In Your Heart" as proof that New York's Loudest is a step closer to being New York's Best. -- B. Lumauig

Fun fact:
- APTBS singer/guitarist, Oliver Ackermann runs Brooklyn-based Death By Audio, a company that specializes in designing custom-made effects pedals for bands such as My Bloody Valentine and U2. In fact, The Edge uses one of Ackermann's creations on "Get On Your Boots."

More Music Reviews

Concert Finder

Daily Hot List

More Rock