Artist: From Atlantis
Album: Echoes and Answers EP
Genre: Hardcore/electronic/metal
Label: InVogue Records

Providence six-piece From Atlantis show immense promise on their debut EP Echoes and Answers. A dynamic and exhilarating work, it’s ambitious and majestic and hints at real, unique visionary potential. The band demonstrate a pleasing tendency to add a little bit of depth and splendour to the guitar/drum/growling mainstay of heavy music, though unfortunately their efforts aren’t always properly rewarded. Their enthusiasm for brash experimentation sometimes leads to a stumble but if one overlooks the occasional structural defect, the band’s clear passion stands out.

The EP opens with a brief instrumental entitled “Reflections,” a vivid indication of the potential about to be realised. This comes good on the brooding, shadowy intent suggested by the cover art with a distorted mesh of uncertain musical threads. It all sounds faintly synthetic and otherworldly, hinting at the kind of imaginative fracas about to ensue. “Changes” then roars into life (quite literally), its heavy chugging guitars reminding me slightly of A Day To Remember’s work on Homesick. This onslaught is flanked by insistent currents of synth that add a kind of haunting confusion to the track. The addition of sweeping traces of piano keys adds to this while the lively sparring between growls and clean vocals creates an exciting and eerie chorus. It’s accomplished and reckless, but engaging too – there’s a more mature conscious constantly rethinking its harsh breakdowns so that it remains thought-provoking amid the noise.

“The Lost Ones” isn’t quite as experimental, though the overall tempo and rhythm suggests something just as restless and insecure as its predecessor. The contrasting vocal styles arrest attention, the clean elements acting as a shrill and ghostly antidote to the heaviness elsewhere. Musically, it’s anarchic and raucous, with dashes of synth helping to bring out this chaotic sentiment. A perfectly timed touch of piano provides a striking mid-section outtake, and the guest vocals (courtesy of Landon Tewers) add a certain blithe spirit that works well alongside the music.

“Oblivious” is similarly enamoured of keys, the opening refrain hinting at a soaring and ambitious plan for the song. This is offset by the crashing appearance of guitars which mute the string ensemble and strip the song of much of its grace. It’s in places like this that the EP lets itself down, when a just and admirable intention doesn’t quite translate and the finished product ends up sounding fragmented and insecure. There are terrific vocal performances however, the frenzied agitation working particularly well with an extravagant midsection in which chaos theory prevails.

“Growing, Caving, Searching, Sinking” is, unfortunately, a massive comedown in its rather blasé (even poppier) choruses and bland guest vocals (provided by Ryan Neff of Miss May I). Title track “Echoes and Answers” is wild and feral. At first, its heavier elements seem weighed down and stilted without something more eloquent to prop it up. It’s not a bad thing per se, but it is striking how much of the band’s magic is lost when they forego their artistry. The more refined elements, particularly the chorus, rejuvenate the song and give it a much-needed touch of eloquence. These finer points, if you will, are an undeniable aspect of the band’s appeal and allow their songs to develop a clearer character, instead of wallowing in deadpan riffs as so many others are content to do.

All things considered, Echoes and Answers is an accomplished work. Its incoherence can be frustrating at times, but it has a crashing, rampant elegance that makes it almost irresistible. While its exemplary ideas don’t always benefit from a coherent plan, there is obvious and interesting vision here, and given the breathtaking quality of their raw material From Atlantis should go very far indeed.

SCORE: 8/10
Review written by Grace Duffy

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James Shotwell

James Shotwell is the founder of Under The Gun Review. He loves writing about music and movies almost as much as he loves his two fat cats. He's also the co-founder of Antique Records and the Marketing Coordinator for Haulix. You should probably follow him on Twitter.

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