Band:	...And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead
Album:	The Century Of Self
Style:	Alternative metal
Release date:	February 17, 2009
A review by:	jupitreas

01. The Giants Causeway
02. The Far Pavilions
03. Isis Unveiled
04. Halcyon Days
05. Bells of Creation
06. Fields of Coal
07. Inland Sea
08. Luna Park
09. Pictures of an Only Child
10. Insatiable (One)
11. Ascending
12. An August Theme
13. Insatiable (Two)

...And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead is a band that mixes post-hardcore with progressive, folk and good old rock elements. They have been around for well over a decade now and The Century Of Self is their sixth full length album. Why is it then, that in spite of being such an experienced band, the music here is like a teenage boy that blows his load early and then just wants to cuddle? Since their name is so annoyingly long, I will from now on call this band Shortstop.

It all starts quite brilliantly. "Giants Causeway" crescendos into "Far Pavilions", a song with a huge, reverberating sound and guitars that send seismic waves with their power. The Irish folk infused "Isis Unveiled" follows and is easily the best piece on this album, alternating between what New Model Army might sound like if they were a heavy shoegaze band with textured progressions of noise. "Halcyon Days" is a bit softer but sweeping dynamics make it another hit. But then... it's over. Shortstop's "Bell Of Creation" has clearly just rung and that's it. The remainder of the album is composed primarily of ballads featuring a generous use of piano and acoustic guitars. Shortstop's real character is exposed as every song is more pretentious and overwrought than the next, with a hint of desperation rearing its ugly head. Of course, these elements were there to begin with but now there is no muscle to carry them through. You can either politely wait for the CD to finish playing or just eject it and forget about it.

After listening to The Century Of Self I cant help but think that I've been duped, abused even, into enjoying it at first. Something tells me that while Shortstop enjoyed recording this very much indeed, all I get is a brief moment of fun but ultimately no satisfaction.