The North Atlantic – Wires In The Walls / 2003 Stay In Get Down / 11 Tracks / http://www.thenorthatlantic.com / [email protected] / Reviewed 05 September 2006

The North Atlantic start off their “Wires In The Walls” with an interesting blend of styles. This means that the retro rock of acts like Jet and The Strokes are tied together with a sludgier sound that has been cultivated by acts like Fu Manchu and Monster Magnet. For the aforementioned “The Lotus Eater”, there is a last whitewash of angular, Joy Division-ish rock to tie everything together. If a band like the Refused were still around today, I believe that they would sound like The North Atlantic It only takes The North Atlantic the space of a track, but they are able to cut their first big radio hit with “Drunk Under Electrics”.

It is really the vocal harmony that takes the day here, as the band is able to add a hooky melody even as there is a very present At The Drive-In nexus of hardcore and emo that sneaks through at times. What The North Atlantic do on “Wires IN The Walls” is give their listeners a grab bag. No one knows what the next track will be on this disc besides the band themselves. By confusing things further, such as having an extended instrumental interlude during “Swallow Fire”, the wonder that listeners have about the disc is increased. At some point, however different the sound may be that The North Atlantic is creating for “Wires in the Walls”, there is always present a reverence for the styles that first influenced them as a band. Again, during “Wires In The Walls”, there are heavy amounts of Fugazi and At The Drive-In influence, even if harder forms of rock, hardcore, punk, indie, and emo may all be tied to that influence.

The North Atlantic keep a high energy up on this disc and even make connections to the folk punk of acts like Against Me and Latterman with tracks like “The Man Who Saved Your Ass”. While a number of acts would try to create this diverse of a sound just to make it big in the music industry, The North Atlantic put their money where their mouth is. The energy level is high throughout, and the tracks on the disc all contain something that will stick with listeners long after the disc ends. Individuals may not know who The North Atlantic are at this juncture, but I am sure that as the band gets their name out on the market, more and more people will find this glorious act.

Top Tracks: The Man Who Saved Your Ass, The Lotus Eater

Rating: 7.1/10

[JMcQ]