Solids - Animal Faces Split

01. Solids - Cold Hands
02. Animal Faces - Give In
03. Animal Faces - Hold On

I'm not sure which band actually has side one of this split, since I'm listening digitally, but the first song I got to was 'Cold Hands' by Solids. I wasn't familiar with this band going in, but there is a lot to like here. The song cruises along at a pretty consistent mid tempo groove, and the crunchy bass definitely adds to a sense of dirtiness that I'm getting from this track. The guitars sit back at well, opting for chunky chords and subtle lead lines over flashy solos or licks. While I really like the musical approach, my only complaint is that I didn’t find the vocals to be too terribly memorable. This wouldn't normally be a huge issue for me on a song, although as the sole offering on a split, the lack of memorable vocal lines left it feeling a little flat. That said, I will definitely be checking out the rest of this band's material regardless. Animal Faces offer up two songs on their side of the split, and the reverb soaked guitar intro to 'Give In' immediately indicated that this would be a different fare from the Solids side. 'Give In' is wholly instrumental, acting as an introduction to 'Hold On', which hits its stride almost immediately, layering gritty guitars over a punctuated drum beat. The melodic vocals sit back in the mix and have a healthy amount of reverb, giving the entire song a kind of haunting feel, despite the accessible melodies. Hidden behind the accessibility are devices and small transitions that are technical and enhance the overall song. This serves as a good introduction to the band, and the instrumental setup of 'Give In' gives the song that follows it a sort of mystique that listeners might find intriguing. I look forward to diving into this band's other recordings.

Reviewed by Justin.

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