One of the best, if not THE best, parts of reviewing music is getting the chance to see a band before they reach their maximum potential. Painted Wives is no different, with their first full-length release under Century Media, “Obsessed with the End,” due out April 29th. This 12 track album took me for a ride that has left me wondering what my actual emotions are, without feeling like I was let down in any way.
First things first, I will immediately admit the style of music these artists have chosen is not my typical cup of tea. That being said, the album as a whole was unique and the composition was not stunningly mind-blowing, but for the most part worked well with the dark message of evil and death that was portrayed.
The album as a whole is growing on me the more I listen to it. My first impressions, admittedly, were not the greatest, but as I started comprehending what I was listening to, I had realized that my own opinions were clouding my judgement from the actual talent and artistry.
The vocals were very Dream Theater-esque, which takes some getting used to. Personally, I feel that the vocalist is holding back from his true potential. Belt it out, man! You’ve got it in you, we can hear it on songs such as “Fable,” which also happens to be my favorite from the album.
The musicianship is remarkable in most of the songs, songs such as “Stay With Me” and “Icy Blonde,” topping of my picks for a solid display of talent, with other songs such as “My Sisters,” and “Congratulations,” that left me kind of shaking my head at the composition. But again, not being fluent in this particular style, I’m just a guy with an opinion. I truly think that future releases from them will be a much more mature sound overall, and expect to hear great things.
I would recommend Painted Wives to fans that tend to enjoy Iron Maiden, Dream Theater, and would just like to hear something uprising and different from the current norm. While again, I may not have been the biggest fan outright, they are good at what they do. I will honestly say that I would like to see these guys live. They have a knack for different, and can only hope their stage presence matches their sound.
You can catch the music video for “Hollowed Bones” below.
