For their first LP, O’Brother brings to the table something that I was not expecting at all. Seeing them live with Manchester Orchestra made me think that this would just be another over sensitive alt rock band. But right when “Malum” came to a crashing start, I was taken completely off-guard. Featuring tribal influenced drum patterns, the album opener develops into this creepy chant with echoing ambient drones, accented with sharp blasts. Out of nowhere an upbeat rhythm comes into the mix and starts the song “Lo” which is reminiscent of “Songs for the Deaf” by Queens of the Stone Age. The fuzzy guitars create a textured wall of sound that looms over all of the songs in this album, while the vocals go from angelic falsetto to aggressive screams. In “Garden Window” we see O’Brother fusing several different genres, including: post rock, alternative, metal, and even some blues influenced vocals hint some of the songs. There is such a presence to these songs that even the somewhat repetitive nature of the vocals (a good example being “Poison!”) can be overlooked in these stretching soundscapes. Along with repetition, the vocals have a tendency to sound forced (similar to Andy Hull’s from Manchester Orchestra). This really is a small set back, seeing as the music makes it very easy to overlook it. Ending with “Last Breath”, a dirge like song with acoustic guitar and echoing feedback accompaniments, “Garden Window” is a dense and encompassing album that will leave you in awe of it’s breadth, but with this awe comes a bit of a tiring listen at times.

Rating: 7.8/10

RiYL: Post Rock, Manchester Orchestra, large amounts of sound

Recommended Tracks: Lo, Lay Down, Machines Part I & II, Cleanse Me