Review Summary: Still stuck on Failure, till the end of time.
Fantastic Planet to this day remains one of the most underrated albums in recent memory. A pinnacle of late 90s alternative rock, a story revolving around heroin addiction was woven seamlessly into a space rock sound that transported listeners to a far off place in their mind, much like the powerful effects of the drug. Its spacey, drifting atmosphere was juxtaposed with the dark and sordid subject matter, highlighting the contrast between the high and the harsh reality of its chemical dependency. Failure’s legacy seems to have grown in the years following the release of
Fantastic Planet and their subsequent breakup, although they still don't get nearly as much attention as they deserve. Despite taking nearly two decades off, the Los Angeles-bred trio proves that the magic is still there 19 years later.
The Heart is a Monster picks up right where
Fantastic Planet left off, with the instrumental “Segue 4” setting the tone with its ominous buzzing that transitions harmoniously into the hard-hitting “Hot Traveler”. From the beginning notes, it is evident that this is the most produced album Failure has put out; the extra layers of polish help streamline the sound into something darker and gloomier.
The Heart is a Monster focuses more on the heavy instrumentation as opposed to its atmosphere unlike
Fantastic Planet, and while the latter was able to conjure images of a far-off celestial body, the production on the former puts more emphasis on the hard-hitting riffs. Occasionally, a song like “A.M. Amnesia” or “Petting the Carpet” will try to balance out the two, and the result is nothing short of beautiful.
A central part of Failure is their guitarwork, and
The Heart is a Monster continues the band’s penchant for enhancing their instrumentation. Part of what gave
Fantastic Planet its ethereal feel was how Ken Andrews and Greg Edwards’ added layers of effects to their guitar playing. The twinkling, talkbox-altered riffs during the intro of “Atom City Queen” and throughout “Counterfeit Sky” are classic Failure moments, and the band’s instrumentation just makes the album sound more expansive and richer. The musical depth to
The Heart is a Monster is one of its greatest qualities, whether it’s the Queens of the Stone Age-esque riffage of “The Focus” or the lush atmosphere of “A.M. Amnesia”. The extra polish benefits a band like Failure, who put so much detail and meticulous care into their sound.
Much of
The Heart is a Monster isn’t immediate. It takes a while for everything to sink in, but when it does, the immense beauty behind it all is simply captivating. Not many bands can come back after a nineteen year absence and sound as fresh as Failure can in 2015. Penultimate track “I Can See Houses” relishes in Ken Andrews’ luscious vocals and eerie guitar tones, creating a six-minute masterpiece that weaves right into the album’s sinister ending. The climax of “Come Crashing” is nothing short of epic, while the slower pace of “Mulholland Drive” is a welcome change of pace that shows off the band’s emotional side. If there’s any flaw to this album, it’s that it runs just a little bit too long. With eighteen tracks clocking in at just over an hour,
The Heart is a Monster is not a quick listen, and while
Fantastic Planet was a tad longer, it was able to justify its length better. The overuse of segues – four of them during the last seven songs – is excessive, especially when some, like “Segue 7” and “Segue 8” are unnecessary in the album’s flow.
Nineteen years removed from the release of their magnum opus, Failure’s first foray back into the music scene could not have gone any better. While
The Heart is a Monster is decidedly different from
Fantastic Planet, that’s part of what makes it excel. The rich, layered sound of “A.M. Amnesia”, “Atom City Queen” and “Counterfeit Sky” may not be as grainy or textured as “Stuck on You” or “Heliotropic”, but that’s not the sound they’re going for here. Whereas
Fantastic Planet focused more on creating a soundscape reminiscent of the depths of outer space,
The Heart is a Monster prioritizes a visceral look at the inner facets of humankind, right down to the title of the record itself. Even with the occasional misstep, Failure both rekindle their glorious past and change things up for the future.
