Album Review: Sky Eats Airplane - The Sound Of Symmetry EP

Sky Eats Airplane, started life back in 2005 as a two piece and have spent the past five years refining their sound and building a band. This three song ep, ‘The Sound Of Symmetry’, has been released as a teaser for their yet-to-be-recorded third album and if these three tracks are an accurate representation of what’s to come, then fans of the band should get excited. Recorded with relatively unknown producer, Taylor Larson, the three tracks effectively showcase different aspects of the band’s sound. ‘The Sound Of Symmetry’ would rest nicely alongside bands such as Choidos and Saosin, as it showcases a vocalist that can actually sing and an over-reliance on samples.

The first thing that’s instantly noticeable from opening track ‘The Contour’ is that Sky Eats Airplane seem to have toned the aggressiveness down. Kicking off with a sample loop that sounds like the intro to a computer game, the focus on a cleaner, more emotive sound is instantly apparent. ‘The Contour’ is very reminiscent of Saosin to begin with, until vocalist Bryan Zimmerman kicks up the aggression, howling with a rawness that conveys buckets of emotion. The track does suffer midway through when it breaks down into a moment of pure samples that sounds like it should be part of a mid-90’s boyband ballad. The way ‘The Contour’ switches between clean and heavier vocals is very effective, but it’s hard to see what purpose the samples serve here.

Title track ‘The Sound Of Symmetry’ has blast-beats, samples and guttural vocals from the off, creating a powerful and raw intensity to the song. Zimmerman’s roared vocals are similar to those of Dustin Kensrue; in that they don’t aim to sound like the cookie monster, but aim to wreak of a pleading desperation and emotion. ‘The Sound Of Symmetry’ trades back and forth between roared and clean vocals, much like the previous track . However, unlike its predecessor it’s chorus really demonstrates that Sky Eats Airplane are capable of writing brilliant pop kooks as well. Yet again the track leaves the listener questioning the necessity of the samples. It obviously distinguishes them from other like sounding bands, but it’s questionable whether the samples actually add to the bands overall sound.

Things slow down for the final track ‘Motion Sickness’. The track is much more sample based, there are no heavier vocals and the opening section of the song is just vocals and samples. When the band does kick in, the track sounds industrial, reminiscent of Nine Inch Nails. ‘Motion Sickness’ is undoubtedly the most different of the three tracks, and is the one place on the EP where the samples are almost justified. An album of this type of track wouldn’t work, but it serves a purpose as an atmospheric closer to the EP.

The EP is a great aperitif to what promises to be a great meal when the album is finally recorded later in the year. Keep an ear open for Sky Eats Airplane, as they are promising big things.

4/5

'The Sound Of Symmetry' EP by Sky Eats Airplane is available now on Equal Vision.

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Dan Issitt