TANG – another thousand days, out of this world

(CD, Emolution)

It would be easy to discard Tang as just one more post-hardcore (that’s a word I came upon just recently, probably a lot later than most other people interested in this kind of music and although I am not at all sure what it means in detail I use it for no other reason than to prove a point and if only that generalisations like that are, well, generalisations in the better and accusations in the worse. After all, at the root of the evolution of all these bands stands the legendary “Souls at Zero”-album by Neurosis and has been released almost 15 years ago) bands, but that would be a lot too easy. Even if the name of their label, emolution, gives leeway for yet another half dozen of easily drawn conclusions. But like their labelmates Bumblebees there is more behind the glossy façade, and it should be noted that the design and design around this band are nicely done, than is easily available. To make it short and put the conclusion right up in front: I do believe that Tang have set out to make history. Or at least leave their mark on the world in some way or another.

“Another thousand days, out of this world” has the punch and attack to strike for big time but also the emotionality and sincerness to make it last. It was already released in May of 2006 and then it took some time to find its way to me and then it took some time to crawl out of the stack of CDs that sits neatly beside my stereo and waits for either closer inspection or repeated listening. Well, it is more like stacks of music waiting for my time and my time seeming to become less and less with months, but I won’t betray the few principles I have regarding reviewing records (which boil down to me liking the music and finding something worthwhile to write about), so it took some more weeks to get word out about the album within here. Triflings! Good music is timeless. “Another thousand days…” is one of those so-called growers, so it won’t matter. I have to know, since I spent quite some time with this record.

The music of Tang works better on album length (or concert length for that matter) than broken down in single pieces of songs. Density swells, rises, overpowers everything and then fades out again. Maybe that, after all, is the main difference between what seems to be called post-hardcore and metalcore: dynamics versus a static wall of sound. Not that the enormous mass of sound built and thrown on the audience by good metal(core) bands from Slayer to Converge isn’t something great and exciting to experience, I nevertheless find the more refined approach of bands like Tang, Elodea and others way more rewarding. Take me on a trip, carry me along, lift me up and then let me down gently. All the while I am sitting comfortably between all seats. Maybe it is all a matter of being able to induce catharsis, one of the most potent energy sources on the planet. The voice of singer is raspy, growling, an intense scream, passion and energy. Yes, the long form is much more fitting to this kind of growl. An ocean of storms with the interluding moments of quietness. But as they say, nothing is as frightening as the calm before the storm.