Review Summary: A zany success
Data Diamond is nothing short of ambitious. With their unique blend of progressive rock/metal and electronic elements and experimenting with odd vocal effects and modulation, Four Stroke Baron’s fourth full-length pushes the boundaries of modern rock in a captivating manner. Though their past records have experimented with synthetic effects,
Data Diamond takes a deeper dive into the avant-garde, stripping down their predominantly metal style to a more electronic-centric focus.
With opener “On Mute,” Four Stroke Baron displays their emphasis on creating a strong atmosphere for
Data Diamond, beginning with pulsating bass and pitch-shifting vocals. However, this subtle atmosphere quickly explodes into chaos as “Monday” kicks into gear with sporadic drum rhythms and sliding, down-tuned guitar riffs. Throughout the tracks, dramatic Tears For Fears-esque vocals are heavily distorted and manipulated, complemented by wacky synths and frantic electronics that add to the intensity of the track. This dynamic between the calmer sensibilities of the opener and the metal-focus of the follow-up perseveres throughout the entirety of the record. Tracks like “Cyborg Pt. 3 (Because I’m God)” and “People In My Image” resort to the band’s heavier style with bouncy riffs and catchy grooves accented by the subtle intricacies of audio effects and ambient elements. On the other end, interlude “VALLTT” and “Open The World” dive headfirst into jazzy, experimental sections give a new facet to the band’s style that focuses more on the out of the ordinary songwriting and ambitious musicianship.
Where
Data Diamond succeeds the most is when it balances the dynamic throughout a track. One-two punch closers “1,000 Threads” and the title track elevates the style of the album to a new level. The former, as one of the heaviest tracks on the record, does a perfect job of transitioning from the aggressive composition of the first half to the dark atmosphere of the end of the song that seamlessly gives way to the title track. Standing at 7-minutes, the closer takes its time as it grows into an epic climax with vibrant refrains of the classic song “September.” In between the guitar-driven choruses, the stripped down verses give room to breathe and allow the electronic elements to take the spotlight in a powerful way. It may not be the heaviest or craziest track of the bunch, but it packs the biggest punch as a strong closer to an even stronger record.
Although
Data Diamond is sure to be polarizing, one cannot deny its ambitious efforts. While progressive rock/metal mixed with electronics has been done plenty of times before, Four Stroke Baron pushes the balance of the two, leading to avant-garde tracks that can only be described as “zany.” It may not be conventional by any means, but that’s the beauty behind it all.
