Outline In Color – Jury Of Wolves
Album Review by Will Howard
Outline in Color have been developing quite a bit of buzz recently. With their debut full length out in a little less than a week, new management and a perfectly timed video release the buzz is well deserved. After forming in 2010 and recording their self-titled EP, the band spent the next two years cycling through singers and developing as a band. Now two years later experience and drive has given the band exactly what they need for success; a killer record. Jury of Wolves, the debut full length from the Tulsa Oklahoma natives will quite literally knock your socks off.
The record begins with the minute and a half introduction “the Kindling”. Beginning with a scratch record hiss like sample, simple piano chords and the simple melody of clean vocalist K.C. Simosen, Outline in Color eases their listeners into the record. However, this does not last for too long. Less than a minute into the record Simonsen is joined by the distorted sampled vocals of Trevor Tatro, building in anticipation right up until the last second and we enter into the true start of the record.
As we slowly fade into the next track “Follow Me to Sleep” the textures are stripped back again, this time only momentarily, to the simple sounds of a sample and a piano. Just ten seconds later; however, the band kicks it into full gear with power and intensity. Defining their sound as an electronic influenced post hardcore assault on the listener’s ears, Outline In Color join the ranks of a whole new generation of rockers. As technology and electronic music has increased in popularity, so too has its influence and use in other styles of music including hardcore. Outline in Color now lives amongst these projects as one of the most creative and perfectly orchestrated to date.
Jury of Wolves is filled with diverse and creatively constructed track listings containing something for nearly everyone. The ninth and my favorite track of the record, “A Fracture, A Fallout” is what I believe to be the most comprehensive and defining track of the record. With a forty second introduction of a piano melody built on the base of electronic samples shortly followed by a heavy hitting verse, the track brings the listener through a series of emotional and personal experiences. As the thick heavily distorted guitar sounds hit with the powerful screams of Tatro, Outline in Color build a full and widespread sonic texture. Deep in and essential to the mix lays the keyboard, the only bright and uplifting sound until we reach the chorus. As the song moves forward and we uncover the chorus the song takes on a groovier side brightening up the guitars and creating more even syncopated movement than the intense and powerful strumming in the verse. Accompanied by the beautiful clean vocals of Simonsen, the track shows the true diversity and writing abilities of Outline In Color.
For fans of Outline in Color the release of new music, especially a full length, has been long anticipated. Now with new management, a new video and big dreams Outline In Color is ready to release music the right way. Jury of Wolves is a perfect and sonically expansive release from Outline in Color, containing an impressive set of fourteen tracks.
Overall I would give Jury of Wolves four and a half out five stars. Be sure to check out “ A Fracture, a Fallout”, “The Chase Scene” and their N’sync cover “It’s Gonna Be Me”.
Overall Rating: 4.5/5
Recommended Tracks: “A Fracture, A Fallout”, “The Chase Scene”, “It’s Gonna Be Me”
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