Search - Murder By Death :: Who Will Survive & What Will Be Left of Them

Dark, brilliant, different

shmitty01 | ? | 02/23/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I recently discovered murder by death opening for poison the well. I was expecting another drab metalcore band based on the name.....but was I ever surprised to hear actual music coming from the stage! Other reviewers have given their spin on them, some of which is acurate, some not. I will give you the fact that their live show completely destroys the recordings in intensity, pace, and skill. This particular album, contrary to what others have said, is not a disappointment at all. It is much faster than "exorcist", and a different production entirely. It is a themed album, which can sometimes work or fail. In this case, it works quite well. Other's have compared them to cursive, who I have never heard....so can't comment on that. My take on the band is that they are a dark american ballad band. They write songs in the style of Nick Cave with the dark, ironic folk stylings of Voltaire thrown in underneath. This cd is not Goth, as previously stated. It is the farthest cry from Marilyn Manson, the Virgin Black, or Christian Death that you could think of. It is very dark with a sarcastic horror movie them underlying it(and a bit of haunted western movie theme as well). Strange indeed. Strange and good. The cello parts are exceptional(and played by the most un-conceited musician I think I have met to date). The piano is also quite good. The other instruments add to the mix well, but are not anything remarkable though. I believe the term "art rock" is appropriate, as this cd does take a bit of dark, sarcastic humor and a few brain cells to truly appreciate. Overall, I have to say this is one of the most original bands I've heard in a while. A great cd made by nice people who put on an awesome live show."

"We're all waitin for the end..."

A. Kohler | Louisville, KY | 12/14/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

""Who Will Survive and..." is a tiny step down from Murder by Deaths previous release "Like the Exorcist...", yet "Who Will Survive..." is one of the best albums of 2003. When a band can release an album of the year, and it isn't even their best work, you know they're a good band..."Who Will Survive..." is beautifuly crafted and played album. Every song drips with an erriee sense of evil, something the band seems to bask in. The majority of the songs are about "whiskey and the devil" as the lead singer mentioned at one of the shows I attended. Indeed the majority of the songs include references to whiskey and the evil one himself, but what should be more important is the structue and pure beauty of these 10 songs. Murder By Death is a talented band, writing and crafting dark and moving pieces of music. While I was blown away by the use of the cello and the style of songs they wrote on the first album, I'm not as shocked by these songs. So sub conciously, I don't think I like this CD as much as I do the old one. On the new record, a lot of the songs have a more western, cowboy kind of feel. I can't explain why; where the first album gave me a sense of being in an old haunted mansion at midnight on a rainy night, this new album gives me a sense that I'm in an evil saloon filled with people who have come to drink away their sorrow and loathe in their pain. There's nothing country about the songs in the sense of how they sound, I just get that kind of vibe from them. No matter what kind of vibe you get from this band or this CD, every song is vibrant and alive in a dead sort of way. Every song is full of intracet guitars, quiet but driving when need be drums, and of course the brilliant use of the keyboards and the cello. "Who Will Survive..." is a masterwork, beautifuly crafted and played. Most fans of indie music should enjoy this, and there is a real potentional for this band to reach out to people who wouldn't normally think of listening to indie rock. Many have called this band the return of art rock. While I hate the use of terms to pigeon hole a band, I feel that art rock does a good job of describing Murder by Death and their sound. Plus Murder By Death is to inteligent and original to be held down by labels anyways. This band is also on tour non stop, playing as many shows as they can it seems. I've seen them twice, and they are AMAZING live. Seriously left me in a silent stupor after I first saw them. Go see them and buy their stuff, support a good band."

Amazing, Buy this CD now!

Tim Albert | Carol Stream, IL USA | 03/30/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I had been a fan of Murder By Death for about a year before this CD was released. I picked it up the day it came out and was instantly blown away. The songs on this CD flow perfectly together and songs themselves are amazing as well. Murder By Death is one of the most musically talented bands that I have ever heard, and they are by far my favorite. This CD is amazing, buy it now."