Buildings

Reborn In Host by Buildings (Self-released EP)

Buildings is a band from Orange County, New York whose imaginative rock symphonies go well above and beyond what’s normally expected from even a post hardcore band. Managing to be hypnotic and sweeping while maintaining a prevailing sense of heaviness, the five songs on their debut EP Reborn In Host are nothing short of stunning. Shades of Norma Jean and Underoath abound, but influences such as Cave In and possibly Codeseven make for a wildly diverse, yet ultimately cohesive sound.

The sonic journey commences with the wondrous Illuminate, weaving a tapestry of radiant artistry, instantly showing just how compelling and at times brutal their music can be. The Accuser is a swirling wall of sound that is vivid, introspective, and filled with a sense of wonder.

The Constructor’s Collide is another devastating mixture of sweeping sound that absolutely soars.  Opaque: Separation starts off like a dirty kick to the head and quickly dispatches the listener into sensory overload. The whole aural construction ends way too soon with Consider Her Right – a grand finale that will make you instantly want to experience the joys of Reborn In Host all over again. With a work this complex, repeated listening is a definitive requirement.

With an army of cookie cutter hardcore bands infesting the overburdened circuits of Myspace, it is rare to come across a band as compelling and imaginative as Buildings. Kudos at first must go to guitarist and programmer Josh, who fills the air with a crashing wall of visionary sound. Also joining in, supplying highly effective axe work is Matt, while Pat on bass and Jesse on drums make for a persuasive rhythm section. And then there’s vocalist Ricky, excelling at clean, spellbinding singing as well as severely screamed vocals. Together, Buildings as an unbeatable collective – and surely one of the most interesting of the post hardcore bands this reviewer has come across in quite some time.

Reborn In Host is a dramatic introduction to be sure – one that is destined to turn more than a few heads – including those who might be able to get the band signed. With an EP this outstanding, it will be interesting to see what type of sounds these guys construct next. If music as an art can launch one to greater heights, a better name for the subtly named Buildings would be Skyscrapers. Listen to this one on your headphones on for maximum impact…

(Review by Kenneth Morton)

Buildings on Myspace