Buy This CD at Darkcell Digital Music
Belisha
single: "People of the Dark"
Full Length CD: The Hounded
3 Song EP: The Fall of the Evergreen
~reviewed by Blu
I finally got a package from Belisha - (no thanks to the postal service for losing the first one sent back in January). I've spent the past two days listening to The Hounded and their EP as much as possible. And one thought has played over and over again in my mind: The mainstream can be so f*cking stupid - excuse my french. After finally hearing Belisha and then reading this in the interview that Jezebel did with them for this issue of StarVox; I was dumbfounded:
"... we have taken knock after knock. Things written about us, never going to take us on board in the mainstream. Kerrang, although they gave us a fair review, generally they won’t do anything with us. They just turn their backs on us...They care about Travis. Who cares about them? It’s so boring.”
The mainstream had them first and didn't want them?!? *Stupid* mistake. Your loss folks - OUR gain. One day when the mainstream does come calling, and make no mistake, I believe whole heartedly they will; the goth scene will have the satisfaction of knowing that they were ours first -- that we had embraced them and devoured their music with enthusiasm. Thanks in great part to DJ Dave "Exile" in the UK, Belisha has found a home amongst the goth crowd. It seems all the early influences were there - Dan mentions being very motivated by the Sex Pistols early on and their "kiss our ass" attitude towards mainstream culture. They have a fondness for bands like The Cure, The Cult, Kate Bush and The Mission so it's no wonder their own music is edgy and dark and rebellious.
And if I sound like I've done my homework on this band, you can thank StarVox writer Jezebel for picking up on Dave's que. She wrote to me one day all excited about them and asked if she could contact them and possibly do an interview. You see where it's led don't you? Her original CD review is posted below for reference and the interview/feature she did with Belisha is one of the best things I've read in a long time. Now US DJs are clamoring for promos and Belisha is turning up here and there on playlists from Chicago to LA. Witness history in the making kiddies.
And Belisha isn't ungrateful. Infact, they've written a new song about the goth scene's friendly acceptance of them. They comment in our interview:
“ 'People of the Dark' is because
of all you lot... Because we thought at last, ‘people actually care about
music’. We were getting really sort of disillusioned, more angry and hatred
and vengeance driven than sadness, so it’s really good.”
"People of the Dark" is available
on their site for download as it's so new it's not on any of their releases
yet (so go download it... what are you waiting for? Free music!). It will
appear on their second full length CD which they're working on as we speak
and if I predict correctly, could become another great goth anthem. Upbeat,
it employs contemporary keyboards as Dan's voice comes in whispery smooth
at first then kicks into high gear at the chorus. It's immediately catchy.
The guitar breaks between verses are nice goth rock in style and Dan implores
us all to "take hold" as if we can catch the wind off their coat tails
and fly. If you've read the interview by now, you'll gather that they're
very, very energetic in person and I think this quality communicates over
into their music immediately. Take Hold indeed.
Dark wounds glimmer alone again
A barrage of hunting horns follow in our wake
The cold dark oil of night engulfs the final flame
Out-run
Shape fold
Dark ones
Take holdPeople of the dark will meet the realm is turning
People of the dark will set the land a burning
Woh oh oh oh woh ohBorrowed time lives on apart to our graves
Land locked isle of sin together we are made
5 walk by nowhere to go enter into the mazeLeather and steel white face of hail
Never to turn our backs on the darklight we appeal
The cold dark oil of night engulfs the final flame
Now, as for my impression of
The Hounded --
"Wormwire" is an odd song with odd time
signatures and tempo changes running throughout. It opens big and majestically
and then blows full steam into a hard rock song. It almost has a Led Zepplin
feel to it at times. One thing this song does well, is tell the listener
from the beginning , that Belisha isn't a frilly pop band. They've got
power and they mean business: " Am I noble, Am I king, Am I torn up, and
I sing, oh my darling can I sing." I just *love* that line. Something
about the confidence that it exudes is extremely attractive.
"Hope of Pills" is a song you can download off their webpage so I had heard it before getting this CD. It's got an exotic theme to it with lots of jungle noise in the beginning (my what large animals you have!) and has a flute (or some various woodwind sound on keyboard no doubt) part flying about here and there adding to the cultural flavor of the piece. I am assuming from the lyrics it's meant to be a bit psychedelic as the song seemingly points out the the ill effects of drug use.
"Cannibal" is a great, danceable track - perfect for club play IMHO and full of vivid imagery: "A sepia image of the black and blue..." Then track 4, "Filthy" comes in on a dangerous prowling tempo. I love this song for it's gritty ugliness. Dan seems to really get into it literally growling at times when he sings "All you filthy sinners get up and get moving." What's nice, texturally, is the rather East Indian over tones in the melody lines that slither along in contrast.
Continuing some of the exotic over tones, but certainly more mellow in theme, is "Into the Casparian Sea." This time the boys take us on a Sea faring journey -- old, adventure-worn travelers, monsters of the deep and fables that parallel life -- "Hear him cry hear him cry, only fabled beasts can fly, are you there are you there using men to cause despair, never ending rise to the surface of the sea, the body lies somewhere a soul that's never free..."
The title track, "The Hounded" is also available on their website (no excuse not to check it out!) and again, is an easily accessible song and one that I've seen pop up on alot of playlists in the UK (along with "The Fall of the Evergreen"). It's got a mid range tempo and some great guitar hooks - straight up rock with a punchy chorus and all the delicious Belisha energy you can handle (I think the term "Belisha-energy" deserves an official definition all it's own). Certainly, if they weren't thinking "dark and goth" with lyrics like these, they did pretty damn good at inviting darker elements into it: "Feasting on the conscious drink from the blood and bone, drink from my first born age to hold and keep, do you want me to get closer about to turn and shrink, over to the darkness lips will kiss and drink."
And probably because up until this point, the band has been pretty aggressive, I was totally taken aback by "Every Sentimental Moment." It seems there is a softer side to Belisha - even though, that toughness -- that hint of danger is still there; there's big heart in this song as it marches along in a creepy 3/4 waltz time punctuated by an almost carnival sounding keyboard line. Dan sings, "Turning to face me, your eyes hold every sentimental moment I've been feeling, wrapping myself around you, talking my time to know every look and every move and how you want me." (Feeling faint yet ladies?) And then there is a notion of loyalty and protection that as much as it is a threat to would be foes - it's lovely in it's sentiment... "No one like you should be trapped in and burnt, no like you, anybody who would to that is gonna die by my hands... that are touching your heart and are holding... every sentimental moment I've been feeling."
There's a bit of a track misprint on the CD sleeve - as "The Fall of the Evergreen" is listed as track 9, instead of 8. No worries though - it's rather obvious what song comes out of the speakers after a few moments. If any song reflects that contagious "Belisha Energy" it's "The Fall of the Evergreen." A fast tempo with bell tones open it up before guitars rip in with a lovely melody - god it's got a good groove. Makes me movvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvve. Definitely one to get your heart rate going on the dance floor - it's no wonder this has been the track showing up most on playlists. I'm quite curious to watch the video now (which you can download off their website). There's lovely pagan over tones in the lyrics too - its quite interesting to read the words and listen to Dan's heavy British accent.
"Wolf's Head" is a dark toned song - heavy and brooding, the verses are sung in group - almost a march and cadence. The layered vocals VERY effective and again, the imagery is visually assaulting, "Sorrow the raven and the priest ignore, eyes wide shut and the human whore..." Ironically enough, even though they aren't familiar with Fields of the Nephilim (see part 1 of their interview), I find the guitar break in this song very Nephilim-ish in mood and texture which is definitely not a bad thing.
And finally, "Ball of String" utilizes that East Indian melody again contrasted against distorted rock guitars as Dan's vocals - which are so sonically textured and "real" for lack of a better word, sail effortlessly.
The 3 song EP contains a different mix of "The Fall of The Evergreen" - the fast tempo is still there and from the bit I've been able to compare the two, it seems they've just polished it up a tad more - Dan's vocals are equalized on the chorus where they seemed to be slightly over powering in the first mix on The Hounded. And I'd have to listen again - but it seems he growls more in this version - which is kind of sexy sounding actually. "Ball of String" appears again here, unchanged and then, the surprise gem on this one for me is "100% APR." And I'm going to go out on a limb and make a comparison that some people may call blasphemous -- but this song very much reminds me of Skinny Puppy. Now I'm not alone in this either - I played it for fellow musician and huge Puppy fan, Jyri Glynn (from the band The Sins), and he agreed that the vocals were very Puppy-ish. So there. It's also very experimental in nature - lots of electronic noise going on there - sampling and looping. I'm quite curious if written lyrics even exist for this song - as with Skinny Puppy, much of it is a combination of spoken, shouted, screamed and mumbled words. God he's just screaming his lungs out at points - Belisha unleashed and wreaking havoc. I bet this song is startling live. Every once in a while I catch a nice string of obscenities. I think it's also the "tone" of Dan's voice that reminds me so much of Ogre - the harshness, the abrasive, raw, throaty accusations. The song does give up its chaotic nature at some point and launches into a group-sung chorus before delving back down into angst-filled depths. Completely different from anything else they've done - its an amazing testimony to the broad variation this band is capable of.
In the interview Jezebel did with them, Byder says, “It’s been a long time coming because we have… its why we are so pleased to find you." And then, Dan comments: “I want to entertain people.”
Well then, I have only two things left to say ... we're happy to have you and consider the job well done.
The Hounded Track List:
1.) Wormwire
2.) Hope of Pills
3.) Cannibal
4.) Filthy
5.) Into the Casparian Sea
6.) The Hounded
7.) Every Sentimental Moment
8.) The Fall of the Evergreen
9.) Wolfs Head
10.) Ball of String
The Fall of the Evergreen promo EP:
1. The Fall of the Evergreen (single mix)
2. Ball of String
3. 100% APR
Belisha are:
Dan, vocals
Byden, guitars
Elric, Bass
Pit, keys
Hawl, drums
You can download music samples, including "People of the Dark" AND the Video for "The Fall of the Everygreen" off this page: http://www.belisha.com/music.htm
Belisha - Official Website:
http://www.belisha.com
Filthy Sonnix Records
http://www.filthysonnix.com
03/15/02
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(this review originally appeared in
StarVox in January 2002)
Belisha
The Hounded
~reviewed by Jezabel
After a recommendation from a leading DJ here in London, I decided to give Belisha a listen…I need to listen to that guy more often.
The first track at first made me doubt the word of my intelligent friend. Wormwire seemed disjointed and out of synch as if the metronome used by the band had gone all wrong and they kept playing with it never realizing that it would speed up and slow down…and not that delicately. Perhaps an “effect” was being approached here, but it left me taking deep sighs and hoping for something better.
And I was not disappointed in the least. These men from East London are another of the bands that need to be watched because of their versatility and strength, something sorely lacking in many bands who can do one thing well and that will be it. The fiercely danceable Cannibal should work well in the club scene, as will the title track, The Hounded and especially, The Fall of the Evergreen (although most Goths might be out of breath after the first chorus). These are danceable goth rock tracks with a metal twist brought in for good measure and even enough electronic in the background to keep bleepy types somewhat satisfied (although why that would be important is beyond me).
And for those like me who like an album to ebb and flow and turn and twist, there is "Into the Capsian Sea" and "Every Sentimental Moment". Both, especially the latter showcase a poetry in the lyrics that are in sharp contrast to the rest of the album.
From "Every Sentimental Moment":
Life has such meaning with true love that’s burnin
Changing my yearning for your love that’s turning me
No….that is wrong. I have it wrong as I read through more. There is a poetry in ALL of the songs and that is perhaps what makes it magical. Through this lovely poetry and fine writing (and great vocabulary – calubrious????) the music creates enough strength, anger and energy to take the poetry to another level, changing its identity and giving it more levels than the original words possessed.
I have tried to find some similarities to other bands and I feel I may have to duck some tomatoes here. The versatility of the band actually remind me of early Goo Goo Dolls who were able to balance themselves between hard hitting punk sounding and more relaxed pop sounds.
The vocals are strong, powerful, filled with depth…. and hard to find a comparison to. Believe me, I tried. I found some of the guitar work a bit laborious, and a bit too layered, but again, an overall package that takes away any weaknesses.
Some small problems may arise for these guys if Carl McCoy ever takes a gander at the inside of the liner notes….those images are just “bit” too close to the FotN logo for taste. Thankfully, the logo for the band (available for download on their website) is nothing like the liner and actually is a quite cute alien line drawing. (Hope the guys don’t find that offensive, but I find the little guy cute).
These are hard working guys who have a new video which will be showcased on MTV-2 and Kerrang. I have yet to see the footage, but know there is a copy waiting for me.
This CD is good. It’s solid. And it a great foundation for a band. In that I mean, it doesn’t blow you away so much that any album in the future will be a let down, but gives you the band a way of bringing you in, sitting you down for a nice before dinner drink and then later, will wallop you with a seven course meal that would make a Cordon Bleu chef jealous.
Track List:
1.) Wormwire
2.) Hope of Pills
3.) Cannibal
4.) Filthy
5.) Into the Casparian Sea
6.) The Hounded
7.) Every Sentimental Moment
8.) Wolfs Head
9.) The Fall of the Evergreen
10.) Ball of String
Belisha are:
Dan, vocals
Byden, guitars
Elric, Bass
Pit, keys
Oliver, drums
Belisha - Official Website:
http://www.belisha.com
Filthy Sonnix Records
http://www.filthysonnix.com