Return to Mar Music Reviews 2023
With an album titled Sounds of Acceleration, it’s clear that Riot Starters are aiming for a bold entrance, but I can’t help feeling like they’re off to a bit of a slow start. Their debut offers a fresh, modern take on hardcore, heavily laced with the raw energy and grittiness of 90s alternative rock. While there’s potential in this blend of sounds, the execution falls a bit short of truly making an impact.
One of the first things that jumped out at me was the vocal production. The vocals, while fitting within the context of this style of music, often feel drowned out by the instrumentation. The distorted, almost buried quality of the voice works in certain moments, but it feels like the mix overdoes it in places. The vocalist does explore some different patterns with high-pitched yells, which add a touch of variety, but these moments don’t always feel enough to break the monotony.
Speaking of the mix, the production and overall sound are generally fine, but it feels like they could have benefited from a bit more punch. The balance between the instruments and vocals could have been tighter, with the overall volume cranked up a little more to give the tracks the full force they deserve. There’s a lot of potential in the arrangements, but the execution leaves them lacking a bit of bite.
The biggest issue with Sounds of Acceleration, though, is its pacing and repetition. Many of the tracks feel a little too long, and some could definitely have been trimmed down without losing their impact. The longer songs start to feel drawn out and redundant, and there are a few instances where multiple tracks almost sound identical to each other. This repetition takes away from the album’s ability to stand out or offer much variation throughout the listening experience.
It’s tough for me to give this album the rating I’m about to, but I think it’s a fair reflection of what was presented here. Riot Starters definitely have some intriguing ideas, but they still have some refining to do in terms of both songwriting and production to really hit their stride.
RATING: 4/10
NOTIABLE TRACKS:
Relief Technique
Trip Chain
Burst