Distal
| . | . | . |
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
Track listing
Rate/Catalog
Catalog
Review
To rate, slide your finger across the stars from left to right.
13 Reviews
fucking insanity.
EDIT: upon revisiting this album over the past year or two, i am still equally impressed. the group vocals and the intensity are great, not to mention the lyrics and musicianship. some of the songs meander a bit at times, but aside from that, the songs hold attention quite well. surprised this is not rated much more highly and more well-known.
EDIT: upon revisiting this album over the past year or two, i am still equally impressed. the group vocals and the intensity are great, not to mention the lyrics and musicianship. some of the songs meander a bit at times, but aside from that, the songs hold attention quite well. surprised this is not rated much more highly and more well-known.
Published
This album literally changed my whole outlook on music. It introduced me to a wide variety of other great artists like Fugazi and Sunny Day Real Estate, etc. This album is a pinnacle of the emo-revival scene, and it's chock full of passion and intensity. The drumming is fantastic, (the drummer is the guy from The Jesus Years, an instrumental math rock/emo band, and his ability shown on that band's opening track to their debut) the melodies are very smooth and, at some times, very powerful and gripping. The vocals are great, as everyone in the band joins in at one point or another, adding to the greatness of the entire song. I also enjoy the slow parts that they make, which show the band's capability to not only produce powerful emotionally charged songs, but also to create slow and relaxing pieces, where you can sit back and let your mind sink into the song.
In conclusion, this album is absolutely a must-listen for any fan of emo, post-rock, or just any rock music in general. It's sure to take you for a ride, and it will never let go.
In conclusion, this album is absolutely a must-listen for any fan of emo, post-rock, or just any rock music in general. It's sure to take you for a ride, and it will never let go.
Published
Gold on Red is the greatest song I have ever heard.
This is the best thing in emo since The Devil and God are Raging Inside Me. There is passion dripping in every guitar riff, drum fill, and every vocal chord-shredding scream. This is how the band has listed the different vocals sung by the guys on their Facebook page:
Oli - Drums/Yelp
Biff - Guitar/Screech
Draper - Bass/Übergwelp
Jim - Guitar/Thwep
Beal - Bass/Dog Cough
This has the passion of a live show: sloppy, unrefined, and poweful. I'd probably be reduced to tears if I saw them perform Gold on Red.
This is the best thing in emo since The Devil and God are Raging Inside Me. There is passion dripping in every guitar riff, drum fill, and every vocal chord-shredding scream. This is how the band has listed the different vocals sung by the guys on their Facebook page:
Oli - Drums/Yelp
Biff - Guitar/Screech
Draper - Bass/Übergwelp
Jim - Guitar/Thwep
Beal - Bass/Dog Cough
This has the passion of a live show: sloppy, unrefined, and poweful. I'd probably be reduced to tears if I saw them perform Gold on Red.
Published
I would never have been able to tell that these guys are from Britain, and trust me, I could tell you about a fair few good British emo bands, unlike RYM.
But who cares 'cause this stuff is seriously good. 'Asleep' sounds like the best song American Football never wrote. There's some beautiful twinkly passages, direct and beautiful lyrics and it's structured wonderfully as well with plenty of crescendos etc to look forward to.
This hit me straight away, check it out.
But who cares 'cause this stuff is seriously good. 'Asleep' sounds like the best song American Football never wrote. There's some beautiful twinkly passages, direct and beautiful lyrics and it's structured wonderfully as well with plenty of crescendos etc to look forward to.
This hit me straight away, check it out.
Published
American DIY should be ashamed, cause these Brits are more original, and more exciting! Distal's terrific, it's Emo, but it doesn't bore you, and the musicianship is terrific. There are instances of early Cursive, a darker Cap N Jazz, and the overall epic songplay of Sunny Day Real Estate. If you're a fan of the Emo revival scene, or not, regardless give this album a chance, it'll surprise you.
Published
I really can't stop listening to this album. The harmonized gang vocals, those sporadic drums. The production kinda reminds me of the album Clarity by Jimmy Eat World for some reason. The drums are mixed higher though and are very shimmery, which is awesome. The guitar play is stellar as well, mathy at times.
My favorite songs are "Big Sea", "Lifewood", and "Asleep", a beautiful end to the album. "Stiltwalker" would be up there too, but it kinda falls off a bit at the end for me.
My favorite songs are "Big Sea", "Lifewood", and "Asleep", a beautiful end to the album. "Stiltwalker" would be up there too, but it kinda falls off a bit at the end for me.
Published
-
1
Big Sea
-
2
Stiltwalker
-
3
Wide Awake
-
4
Lifewood
-
5
Gold on Red
-
6
Closure
-
7
Asleep
Back in 2010 I first heard Cap'n Jazz and got absolutely hooked on emo (as anyone who reads the blog can attest to; I've been posting more emo reviews than anyone ought). But after all that time I couldn't really find a band that brought the same kind of thing that made Cap'n Jazz so good—that same kind of raw intensity without being too heavy, the same intricate approach without being too mathy, the perfect balance of everything that makes this kind of music worth listening to.
Well, Crash of Rhinos has it. (Had it, I guess.) I've heard both of their albums but I think Distal barely ekes out as being the better one, and I don't say that lightly. There is not a single wasted moment here, not a single drum hit or guitar note or vocalization that isn't overflowing with passion and meaning and value and beauty. There is not a single song that doesn't make me stop whatever else I'm doing and take it in. This review took far too long to write because I had to keep stopping and just let myself listen.
A couple choice moments:
- The huge gang vocal section closing out "Big Sea", an excellent callback to the beginning of the song while showing just how grand they're capable of getting.
- The last half of "Stiltwalker", which takes on this elegant legato Bear vs. Shark feel that is absolutely entrancing.
- The seamless shift of the same riff into triple-feel halfway through "Gold on Red". I don't even know why it works so brilliantly.
- "Asleep" ending the album not with a bang, but by quietly slinking off into the distance, leaving the listener in a puddle on the floor.
- Me, needing to immediately listen to the whole thing again after the first time. That has happened maybe only three or four times that I can remember, ever.
This band is essential listening for anyone with even the remotest possibility of having interest in emo. And it came out in 2011—during emo's revival, when there don't seem to be many albums like this, and right when I needed it. It's criminal that it doesn't seem to have gotten as much exposure as it deserves. Maybe one day.
Published
See I got into Knots first and was impressed but not too enthused.
Distal in my opinion was far better! Big Sea's riffs, Stiltwalker's finish, Gold on Red + Closure blending into eachother and Asleep's drum/guitar interplay was eye-poppingly good. A lot of really good musical ability on this album, but considering that lifewood and wide awake were both a bit average, sometimes I wonder if they're good musicians by luck or by skill...
Distal in my opinion was far better! Big Sea's riffs, Stiltwalker's finish, Gold on Red + Closure blending into eachother and Asleep's drum/guitar interplay was eye-poppingly good. A lot of really good musical ability on this album, but considering that lifewood and wide awake were both a bit average, sometimes I wonder if they're good musicians by luck or by skill...
Published
Votes are used to help determine the most interesting content on RYM.
Vote up content that is on-topic, within the rules/guidelines, and will likely stay relevant long-term.
Vote down content which breaks the rules.
Vote up content that is on-topic, within the rules/guidelines, and will likely stay relevant long-term.
Vote down content which breaks the rules.
Catalog
26 May 2015
17 May 2015
5 May 2015
28 Apr 2015
25 Apr 2015
13 Apr 2015
7 Apr 2015
3 Apr 2015
2 Apr 2015
15 Mar 2015
14 Mar 2015
8 Mar 2015
5 Mar 2015
5 Mar 2015
28 Feb 2015
| . | . | . |
- Be respectful! All the community rules apply here.
- Keep your comments focused on the release. Don't post randomness/off-topic comments. Jokes are fine, but don't post tactless/inappropriate ones.
- Don't get in arguments with people here, or start long discussions. Use the boards for extended discussion.
- Don't use this space to complain about the average rating, chart position, genre voting, others' reviews or ratings, or errors on the page.
- Don't comment just to troll/provoke. Likewise, don't respond to trollish comments; just report them and ignore them.
- Any spoilers should be placed in spoiler tags as such: [spoiler](spoiler goes here)[/spoiler]
Note: Unlike reviews, comments are considered temporary and may be deleted/purged without notice.