Rings of Saturn - Ultu Ulla (2017)
I think Rings of Saturn is a really cool idea for a band: A band that's so batshit insane sounding that you just have to sit back and think about, but before I go on any further, humor me a bit: This band loves sci-fi, so it's only natural to assume that they've probably toyed around with the idea of (and potentially believe in) alternate universes. I want to take you to a world incredibly similar to ours, but in this universe, there has only been one Rings of Saturn album recorded and released. Alright? Is that good with you? All gucci? Alright, check this:
Imagine you're at your own birthday party, and your friend (let's call him Travis) shows up with a gift-wrapped CD case. You unwrap it, and there it is, an album by the band Rings of Saturn, which you've never heard of. "Now what's this?" you ask with a fake smile on your face. "Well, why don't we pop it into your stereo back in your room and find out?" your friend Travis asks, and you both proceed to doing so. You're bombarded with nonstop guitar arpeggios, and you can't help but laugh. "What is this?!" you ask again. "A gag gift, ya fuck." Travis responds before handing you a copy of the latest Dillinger Escape Plan album, you fucking LOVE that band! But you have this gag gift going on.. You have to show other people this fucking novelty album. One by one, you drag your friends back to your room, they listen to a minute, and go "That's ALL it is, huh?!" before bursting into laughter. After the day is over with, you put your Rings of Saturn CD in your CD case, never to be touched again, unless a friend comes over who's never heard it.
Pretty scary, right? Well, I have two questions: How are we sure that this isn't a previous Rings of Saturn album that they just shuffled the playlist around on, and who is this music meant for? Well, for the first question, I really have no fucking answer, but for the second question, my best guess is easily impressed people. Seriously. I remember asking a guy some years back what the appeal of this band was, and he typed out something around the lines of "They play so fast", and when I listen to this band, that's all I really fucking hear. I don't hear songs that do that immense talent justice, and it's really weird because this band is such a solid band on paper, but then you listen to even just one song and you get the entirety of what this band is about, and what they're going to do for four consecutive albums into their career. This music is just ear-candy, it's just a bunch of "how'shedoit?" guitar fuckery without much to actually justify the fact that the band has put out three albums before this that sound nearly exactly like it. When you're as over-the-top as this band is, then the idea of being "over-the-top" isn't over-the-top at all, it's just following routine.
I don't want to leave this review on some random "this band SUXX DIXX hehe" shit, so I really want to say something in case any member of this band reads this somehow: Please expand your sound. Please stop focusing so much on nonstop technicality and work with your sound more. Make those "junk food moments" (as I like to call them) more sparse throughout the music, as opposed to constantly. I don't care what comments you read online about how insane your new album is: They're the same comments you've been getting for years. If you keep this up with your fifth album, interest will fade, and you guys may not get to make a sixth album. It sucks to say that, because of all of the talent involved, but please, take a small break, hit the studio with some new ideas, and craft something that's going to blow my fucking head off. That's honestly all I want. There's too much talent in this band to keep doing this same album again and again. You're better than that.
6/10
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Feel free to check out the song previews/buy this album using my Amazon Associate link!
