While I can understand how many people (myself included) may find a band like Tool's often lengthy, noodle-centric jams to be a bit on the self indulgent side of things, there was absolutely no evidence of this to be found on the debut release Satellite Bay from Germany's Long Distance Calling. Sure one might detect certain similarities between the two bands in the overabundance of ultra heavy guitar riffs as well as the overall song structures themselves, but that's not to say that LDC are not forging ahead and attempting to carve out their own identity in the process. With seven songs clocking in at around an hour it's pretty apparent that these guys aren't interested in playing by the rules when it comes to conventional song construction. The twin guitar attack of Florian Funtmann and David Jordan aren't content with just filling your head with heaping amounts of unnecessary guitar verbiage that you can readily obtain elsewhere, instead focusing on crafting suitable atmospherics to serve the song first and foremost. Together with an airtight rhythm section of bassist Jan Hoffmann, drummer Janosch Rathmer and Reimut van Bonn (ambience) LDC succeeds big time in making each one of these six instrumental tracks (only one features vocals) sound truly unique and free of any preconceived notions or formulas.
The music on Satellite Bay delivers primarily by incorporating all the best elements of post-rock and metal and blending them together seamlessly to create one flowing and unified piece of work. However its the resonating effect of the music that stays with the listener long after it's over that really makes the most impact.
Track Listing
1) Jungfernflug
2) Fire In The Mountain
3) Aurora
4) Horizon
5) The Very Last Day
6) Built Without Hands
7) Swallow The Water
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