Artist: Showbread
Album: Age of Reptiles
Label: Solid State
Purchase: Smart Punk
Release Date: August 1, 2006
Overall: 6.8
Music: 6.5
Lyrics: 7.0
Production: 7.5
Georgia based rock band Showbread released No Sir, Nihilism Is Not Pratical back in 2004 and listeners praised it as being a new bread of hardcore / screamo, better know as “Raw Rock” as the band stated at the time. With their sophomore album, Age of Reptiles, the band builds off their success of No Sir, Nihilism Is Not Pratical, but this time with less screaming (a lot less) and more passion for God.
When it comes time for the Age of Reptiles, that must mean reptiles like to dance a lot because this album lacks the screaming that the bands previous album built on and goes for straight up dance rock. Synths… Check. Catchy guitars… Check. All of the elements are there for catchy rock album, but is that what Showbread fans are wanting to hear? The album starts out with a set of catchy tracks such as “Pachycephalosaurus,” and “Oh! Emetophobia!” and builds on lyrics not only of reptiles but influences from God. This sounds like quite the mix to dance and rock out to at the same time doesn’t it. You have to take Showbread’s word for it when they say they didn’t want to recreate the same album as last time because they certainly didn’t do that. No Sir, Nihilism Is Not Pratical is one of those albums you’re happy to own because every time you listen to it you say to yourself, “this is something different, something I’m going to remember.” Now the Age of Reptiles isn’t exactly a sophomore slump, but what can a fan ask for in a once hardcore / screamo band that has changed their style? “Sing Me To Sleep” for example doesn’t seem to work for Showbread. The songs sing-along lyrics and catchy melody may get stuck in your head for a little bit but most fans will skip this track in favor of something a little more up-beat. “Centipede Sisters” is smothered with a great electronic intro and follows with a simple yet head bobbing guitar part. But overall I find myself missing songs like “A Llama Eats A Giraffe (And Vice Versa)” which had a lot more feeling to them then almost all of the tracks on this album.
Some fans will be disappointed, and others may like the direction the band took with this album. I for one will probably not be playing this album as much as No Sir, Nihilisim Is Not Pratical. It lacks the replay power that so many first albums have from bands such as Showbread.
Track Listing:
1. Naked Lunch
2. Pachycephalosaurus
3. Your Owls are Hooting
4. Oh! Emetophobia!
5. Sing Me To Sleep
6. George Romero Will Be At Our Wedding
7. The Jesus Lizard
8. Centipede Sisters
9. Dinosaur Bones
10. Age Of Reptiles
I think what showbread is doing with the new album is refreshing. If they did try the same thing they did with the last album it would sound just the same and in a sense they would lose some of their flavor. They’re keeping it fresh and new and listeners on their toes for what the will do next.
I agree with Mary, why would a band want to make the same album twice! thats just boring and very unoriginal!! if u are dissapointed in the new album because there is less screaming, you are just not a true fan of Showbread…