Comparison: The act of looking at things to see how they are similar or different
In this the music industry we tend to make comparison’s in relations to bands, or musicians. It helps us establish a dialog during an interview, and can help paint a picture for the reader. Those comparisons tend to cover a broad spectrum from original line-ups to current line-ups, past releases to current releases, writing of music etc you get the picture.
Well when I was given Behind The Grey’s newest EP Treason to review I have to admit I started making comparisons to Through The Grip of Tyrants which was released back in 2015. That’s where I was wrong, mistaken because only in name was this Behind The Grey and that wasn’t a bad thing by any stretch of the imagination. The band, and the individuals have evolved and that was never more evident than in the music heard within the Treason EP
When speaking to Dom, Will, Mike, Daniel, and Grant there is a reoccurring theme or idea that they wanted to present, and that is the ‘Songs’. Meaning that through the music and the lyrics they wanted people to feel the depth of each track on the “Treason” EP as a whole composition.
It’s in the first track of the EP “Inner Light” that we hear Dom Vito’s vocals resonate with a clean precise direction. Telling us a story or in a sense constructing an idea of what we all have felt or tried to understand through struggle and facing a narcissistic and morally decaying or troubled society. In Dom’s ability to seamlessly flow from rough vocals to clean vocals he is able to add an even deeper complexion or feel to song’s like title track “Treason”. Giving it the contour to flow right on top of the music and foundation being provided by the remaining members of Behind The Grey.
Grant Williams – Bass and Mike Boniewicz – Drums provide that ‘Foundation’ I spoke of earlier. Mike’s presence behind the kit is showcased strongly, powerfully throughout the EP but the track that hits home to me being a drummer myself is “Overcome”. With a rhythm and a pulse hardening beat Mike’s drumming drives the song. Adding to that is Grant’s work on bass which ultimately complements the drum work with such precision that there’s no wonder why the lyrics of Dom Vito soothingly just fall right into bed with the foundation that Mike and Grant have provided.
As if Behind The Grey were purposely adding a level of un-paralleled combined greatness enter Will Perna, and Daniel Mc Donald sharing guitar duties. Not to compare them to some type of super heroes this Dynamic Duo are truly the icing on the cake or the silk sheets to the bed that Dom Vito’s lyrics lay in. While sharing the guitar spotlight on tracks like “Reverence” and all the tracks on the EP Will and Daniel don’t fight for supremacy with one another they feed one another musically in a way that is ever so sweet and subtle to the listener. It’s that subtleness that makes each track on the “Treason” EP stand out, not for sounding the same but for offering a different texture dare I say level to the songs.
Behind The Grey’s latest release Treason is by this listener’s account an album that you need to have in your collection of music, because without it you surely would be committing an act of music ‘Treason’.
