When the Kite String Pops
When the Kite String Pops moves easily between sounds that seem difficult to combine on paper. Acid Bath connect dragging sludge with hardcore, aggressive metal and dark ballads. Dax Riggs holds those sides together with a voice equally convincing at screaming and singing melodically. The album is threatening, but it offers much more than an unpleasant atmosphere.
The Blue establishes the mood with a heavy, blues-based riff. The pace then changes and the song keeps taking a different shape. Transitions feel natural, even when the band move from a slow groove into something much more restless. The guitar parts remain recognisable while the rhythms push the music elsewhere.
Tranquilized brings out a more melodic side. The forceful backing remains, but Riggs gives the song a clearer focus through his clean singing. That increases its contrast with the aggression around it. Acid Bath do not need to dilute their sound to write something catchy.
Scream of The Butterfly gives the bass a more clearly melodic role. The quieter arrangement leaves room for the voice while preserving the uncomfortable atmosphere. Its softer sound therefore offers only partial relief. Even without a wall of distorted guitars, the band can create tension.
The album could be shorter. Not every track is equally strong, and the amount of material becomes noticeable during the second half. Compressed drums and processed vocals also give the recording a hard, enclosed quality. Even so, the best songs remain deeply convincing. When the Kite String Pops uses its considerable differences to build an identity, with strong riffs and a singer who makes each extreme believable.
