Time In Malta - AloneWith The Alone

Wed 7th Jul, 2004 in Music Reviews

Time In Malta, who are Chris Lyon – guitars; Todd Gullion – vocals, guitars; Jesse Hayes – bass; and Adam Goldstein – drums, released their debut full length album during the summer of 2002. Titled A Second Engine, the album was indeed the first step in the band’s second stage of development, showcasing a mature band not afraid to experiment with radically different sonic elements while still retaining their aggressive punk/hardcore roots. Released to rave reviews and features in such top name music magazines such as Revolver, Alternative Press, Metal Maniacs and Thrasher, A Second Engine was indeed the calling card of a band ready to take off.

The band’s new album, Alone With The Alone, pushes the boundaries of the genre even further than their debut. The band is more focussed than ever and the outcome is songs that are heavier and more melodic than their previous work. I found this album took a little while to get to the really good stuff but this doesn’t mean that the earlier tracks are not worth listening to, it just means that the latter part of the album is so much better.

If you are familiar with or happen to like the sounds of groups such as Poison The Well or Thursday, then you are well positioned to know what to expect from the established sound of Time In Malta with Alone With The Alone. The first half of the album is very raw and full of mostly punk vocals where as the latter part of the album incorporates an impressive blend of melodic and punk vocals while still managing to keep the raw-edged, metal foreground which the band has become accustomed to carry in their music.

Majority of the songs on Alone With The Alone, are in some way connected to the many wars going on in the world today, and with this said it is definitely a factor that allows you to really make a connection with the lyrics. The reason for this is because the lyrics are so meaningful and can easily be interpreted further and more deeply if you collaborate the lyrics of the songs with your own personal experiences of the contemporary world we live in.

I find that there is almost nothing more appealing to me than an album that is packed with well-thought-through lyrics, which can really make you stop and think. An example of some lyrics which I found to be emotive can be seen in the track, What Are We Afraid Of? The song opens with the words; ‘Grid locked. Warring fragments. Self-righteousness is quicksand. We’re choking on 100 forms of fear. The corroding thread. Poisoning perspectives…’  and it continues throughout the song in this raw, sharp-edged fashion. Additional standout tracks to listen out for which were appealing both musically and lyrically were the tracks Fused As One, Catalyst, Event Horizon, and Start With Me.

In general, I find most of the lyrics on Alone With The Alone to be extremely hard-hitting, particularly given the fact that many powerful words are used and are often sequined in sentences which are short and punctual thus creating a more intensified and lasting effect. Time In Malta have quite successfully pieced together an extremely meaningful array of words which are bound to carry on in your head long after the songs have finished. With this feeling being felt throughout the course of the album, it notably instates itself as a major draw card with liking the album.

It would be very interesting to see if these guys show the same energy that they put into this cd into performing live, because if they do, they would definitely be an exciting package to witness. Overall the album is well worth listening to and with the release of Alone With The Alone, Time In Malta have fully evolved their craft and the band’s growing fan base is bound to take notice.