[REVIEW] Oh, Manhattan “Spiritual Warfare”

Oh,Manhattan

Album: Spiritual Warfare

Label: Indianola Records

Release Date: September 27^th

 

Oh,Manhattanis anything but a band fromNew York, instead this 6 member band is fromAtlanta,Georgia. The boys of Oh,Manhattanformed in late 2009, and getting a good start by releasing their first EP “The Anti-Davinci” in September 2010. Oh,Manhattanthe same year in November signed to Indianola Records, and swiftly began recording their debut full length “Spiritual Warfare” with Lee Dyess, you may know Lee from working with such acts as From First to Last, I Set My Friends on Fire, and mayday Parade.

 

 

“Guilty Blessings Pt. II” starts off with a heavy southern sound that we have come to know from such bands as Maylene and the Sons of Disaster, Fight Paris, and Every Time I Die. Oh, Manhattan are a breath of fresh air in this genre that rarely is tapped by being on the end of post-hardcore rather than the metal end. I was surprised to hear a clean vocal style that reminded me of the days when As Cities Burn came upon us in the early 00’s. I loved the ferocity of the southern style that you find from an act as The Greenery, or Deaf Havana. Such a great start for this bands new record.

 

“The World Ends with You” such a powerful track mixing up styles that you may hear from Alexisonfire and its high velocity, and upbeat sound makes it hard to not get into it and the As Cities Burn sound I referenced is heavier on this one listen to Bloodsucker Pt. II and you’ll know what I mean. Oh,Manhattansort of does away with the southern guitar work and go straight post hardcore but keeping a vocal style that is definitely recognizable in most of the fore mentioned bands.

 

‘The Anti Davinci” starts off with that southern sound once more but heavy and has a breakdown with clean vocals that just makes you melt, as it so beautifully done and so few bands can pull a breakdown with cleans as perfect as this, this song is a little more pop heavy and what I mean by this is so upbeat that you will be doing a little dancing to it rather than just throwing your fists. The ending was the so beautiful and somber.

 

“Interlude” One of the most peculiar tracks even coming from this band, it seems to be a standard “come down” song and then about in a minute in it throws you a loop and changes to a unique almost hip hop synth style while mixing in a classic piano, which I found very interesting and almost sounding like a completely different band.

 

“Giving Up Your Ghosts” this track starts out with a heart pounding intro with stalls which is always a nice touch when bands do this, I particularly like this track as it had the pop core appeal but shows off the bands ability to change it up and try something new, this more of an anthem and I believe I detect styles from Underoath’s “They’re Only Chasing Safety” but only just a hint nothing you would notice unless you paid close attention to detail. This has epic build ups that hold steady and get you set up for the dramatic clean vocal styles while mixing Hance’s fierce voice to balance it out.

 

“Ian Curtis” the atmospheric style sets the mood for what seemed to be about someone close to the band and gives it that personal touch, almost an alternate version to Blink 182’s “Adams’s Song” but not in the pop punk style, reminds me of one the first songs by Four Letter Lie and then about too minutes in the boys of Oh, Manhattan give you a unique guitar style before and epic build up and emotional outro to such an amazing song and album.

 

In closing, I feel you must take the time to listen to this amazing band if you either want to step back in time to earlier time of emotional music that pushed our generation to where it is. I can’t help but listen to this record over and over again as no song provides me any disappointment, from all the instrumental variety that I found in this record, going from completely uproarious to soft and melodic and giving a little bit of a pop kick too.

 

This band has so much potential and it shows by all the styles they have explored on this record. If you’re a fan of Four Letter Lie, The Greenery, or Deaf Havana you must check this out, I know you will enjoy this record just as much as I do.Opportunity is passing you by with Oh,Manhattan you must jump on board or miss out on something great.

 

-Nate

 

LINKS:

 

http://www.twitter.com/ohmanhattan

http://www.facebook.com/ohmanhattan

http://www.myspace.com/ohmanhattanmusic

http:// www.reverbnation.com/ohmanhattan