Album Review: Eolune - Canvas EP

Boston based quartet Eolune describe themselves, quite bravely I might add, as "energetic". Now I've never seen them live, and if anyone has then feel free to correct me here, but energetic certainly wouldn't be a description I would attribute to new release 'Canvas EP'.

Opener 'Billboard' is an uninviting start. A dreary, almost droning tone to front man Corey Wade's voice forces a slow pace, that does nothing to drive the song forward. In fairness, the energy that the band claimed to possess rears its head in the closing moments, but not enough to save the song from being branded disappointing. Title track 'Canvas' is a vast improvement, with edgy guitars and a catchy chorus really firing the song towards a powerful climax.

'Tangled' reverts to the dull and lack luster tone of earlier offerings, with well timed changes in pace the only bright sparks in an otherwise unmemorable track. 'Glass Flowers for the Grave Machines' is a fitting title, Wade's zombie like vocals keeping the song in first gear from start to finish.

"Naked in Poems" is a welcome improvement, managing to create an indie/grunge sound that you didn't think was possible (as unlikely as that may sound). Closer 'My Time' is far from an epic finale, but has a definite sense of conclusion that rounds the record off well, albeit without setting the world alight.

Eolune, besides scoring brownie points for an intriguing name, don't really offer much with 'Canvas EP'. It's wholly original in places and well crafted in others but overall you're left waiting for pace, power and direction that in the end never materialises.

2/5

'Canvas EP' by Eolune is available now through eolune.bandcamp.com

Liam McGarry