Everything and everyone you care about is dead and gone, vanished without reason or explanation. Life, it seems, has changed and left you behind vulnerable and alone. The very fabric of your entire reality has become distorted with doubt and fear. What is genuine? What is false? Who, if anyone remains that can be trusted? The Fall of Troy makes this struggle between the mystical and the natural a daily fight on its powerful Equal Vision Records debut, “Doppelganger.”
This release writes a whole new chapter for the “coming of age story” concept employed by many young bands that are still finding themselves and their sound. “Doppelganger” exchanges the cliches stereotypical of youth for a world where life’s danger and harm are not just a part of growing up but are hauntingly real. The album’s ability to construct a conceptually abstract reality, fully develop its surroundings into a believable natural environment and still create relevance to the “real world” is extraordinary. Though not exactly lyrically innovative, the release has no problem conveying this impressive and convincing imagery to the listener.
The album opens abruptly with an intense assault of rapid-fire guitars, creating an epic sound that most bands strive for their entire album and barely achieve in their solos and finales. No time is wasted in getting to the point: The Fall of Troy intends to take no prisoners in the process of crafting a virtually flawless record with its incredible musicianship. Thomas Erak’s guitar soars through complex riffs, often playing two guitar parts at once. His fingers seem to be working the fret board of the guitar almost faster than the ear can comprehend. Drums and bass soon follow suit, abiding by no set patterns and fashioning a sporadic tension that works to envelop you within a world their music creates.
Vocals throughout the release freely shift between pure singing and edgy screaming. While this technique has often become trite and overused in other bands, The Fall of Troy possesses such great control over its music that it is able to find new and innovative ways to work its vocal performance, thus furthering the album as a whole. This dually seems to be an ongoing theme to its music: Just before any song appears to be getting “too comfortable,” the band bursts into new and different territory. This “scorched earth” policy towards songwriting often makes its songs’ bridges and climaxes some of the most fascinating aspects of the album.
The Fall of Troy boldly embarks upon a sound that is at once both controlled and fierce. Its influence seems gathered from musicians like Omar Rodriguez, Blood Brothers, Botch and Minus the Bear. When all is said and destroyed, though, its sound evokes an image something like the Mars Volta on a violent acid trip. Combining these extremely diverse styles and molding them into something totally unique and distinctive is a big help to this album succeeding with such ease. “Doppelganger” effectively communicates all these concepts with an eventual overpowering theme of desperation in loneliness. However, the Fall of Troy might have to get used to this feeling, because when it’s able to write a record this brilliant, there won’t be a single soul around to top it this year.
