Blame Confusion

Blame Confusion

This Montreal duo of guitarist Xavier Germain-Poitras and drummer Louis Guillemette make an impenetrable cluster of sound, much in the spirit of Hüsker Dü, Dinosaur Jr., and My Bloody Valentine. Catchy melodies poke through the debris; the slightly discordant harmonies create a sinister vibe for the title track, as the guitars pulse to the finish. “Laisser Faire” kicks off with further suspended chords worthy of J. Mascis before the double-tracked vocals take things in a different direction during their brief appearance. “Cold Hands” opts for a disgruntled rhythm that leads to aggressively shouted vocals. Yet the band's music is less about songs than it initially appears. The true center of their sound is the lulling sense of comfort that occurs once the guitars and drums are set in their place and are left working hard. The long, drawn-out moments of dissonance seem to happen more as the album nears its end. The wall of sound on the album closer, “Terminal,” should be truly satisfying to anyone who enjoys loudness itself.

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