When I first discovered The Number 12 Looks Like You (TNTLLU) I had no clue what they sounded like. I was in a small record store with a lot of underground CD’s for sale, and I came across TNTLLU’s EP “An Inch Of Gold For An Inch Of Time.” I was hooked. I next purchased their second full length “Nuclear. Sad. Nuclear,” and was still impressed. Then… I finally found their first full length, “Put On Your Rosy Red Glasses.” I was no longer hooked. I was and still am in love. All my friends said they’re a fad. Just another scene band who’s not even that good. When meanwhile they were creating the most melodic, and chaotic mathcore I have ever heard. TNTLLU fell from Grind heaven, and I could not have been happier.
The record “Put On Your Rosy Red Glasses,” is their most chaotic record to date. But that does not make it less enjoyable then it is. The first track, “Don’t Get Bllood On My Prada Shoes,” is just full blown chaos. The first thing you hear (after the little intro thing) is just a mind blowing guitar riff. It is probably one of the heaviest riffs they have ever put out. If you are expecting a under-produced version of the song off of An Inch Of Gold For An Inch Of Time. You are wrong. The vocals just blast off and don’t let up, with hammering breakdowns and amazing guitar riffs, this is probably one of the best openers to any album I’ve ever heard. This is the perfect introduction to the album and most importantly it’s a intro to the band itself. Heavy as hell, Technical as the guitar gods, and as emotional as any band out there right now.
“Jesus And Tori,” shows off some of the bands true talent. Opening off with some pull-offs, and hammer-ons, and just all around great musicianship. Then a scream, a scream that fades out showing the emotion of the song. Then a growl, and I mean a growl. This is the longest single growl I’ve ever heard lasting as long as seven seconds straight this is a real growl. Some great dual vocals on this song also, shows the connection and chemistry that the two vocalists have when they’re playing. There is also a lot of blast beats in this song, and really fast paced grind. Then the breakdown .This is the only song I know that had a guitar solo playing over the breakdown. This song is one of those songs you need to see live to get the full effect of it. “Blue Dress” is the unofficial single of the record. This is what most Number 12 fans see as their best song. After a voice in the beginning. It’s chaos. With blast beats and breakdowns, and yes even melodic and up beat growls. This song is what makes the Number 12, Number 12.
The true epic of this album (or the closest to it) is the final track Civeta Dei. Starting off with some smooth yet melodic guitars, comes the distortion ridden melodic guitars. TNTLLU is one of the only bands that I know that can make metal so melodic. The lyrics on this song can be related to that of Heavy Heavy Low Low. In that it seems as if the vocalist is crying as he is screaming, it gives the vocals so much more emotion than just screaming and yelling, with technical guitars all throughout backing up the vocalist it really seamless between the vocals and guitars. Then the last minute and thirty seconds is just every thing winding down with dual “crying” vocals, making it seem as though as a chorus is singing. At the end it is just breaking down competley till every thing dies out we are left with 15 seconds of silence to rethink and recollect over what you just heard. The past twenty two minutes of your life have passed. And thanks to TNTLLU you will not regret it.
PROs
Great musicianship within all members of the band.
Some of the most melodic grind you will ever hear.
Every song is well worth a listen
CONs
Only 8 tracks.
Somewhat under-produced.
Clocking in at only 22 minutes.
Recommended Tracks:
“Don’t Get Bllood On My Prada Shoes”
“Jesus And Tori”
“Blue Dress”
“Civeta Dei”
