…And You Will Know Us By the Trail of Dead
So Divided

Rating: 4/5
Tracks to download: “Wasted State of Mind,” “Naked Sun,” “Life”
For fans of: Interpol, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club

Let me start this review by addressing something of critical importance that applies not only to this album, but to all albums in general. Intros, outros, interludes, segues, etc., when not building upon the overall theme of the record, are not worth including. Trail of Dead is no exception to this rule as their intro track is absolutely worthless. It’s a piddling little build-up into the first true song of the album, “Stand in Silence,” whose guitar crunch and drum crash are how the album should begin. Wait though, there’s more!

Trail of Dead includes a segue (not the motorized kind you sometimes see WUPD on but the kind that is a synonym for “interlude”) that separates the majority of the CD from the final track. These two minutes of ominous noise and background whispering only take away from the dramatic feel of the final track and thus should not have been included.

But I digress, and now that we’ve covered the major flaws, let’s move onto why this CD is still worth purchasing. Despite the ridiculous crowd cheering in the beginning, “Stand in Silence” is a powerful opener. The pounding drums and heavily distorted guitar contrast well with the more quiet, majestic and patriotic feeling of the break to create a sentiment that parallels the title.

“Wasted State of Mind” starts with an intoxicating bongo line that pervades and propels the entire song to make it the best on the disc. Its upbeat rhythm during the verse pulls listeners into the music in anticipation of the chorus which delivers in full melodramatic form. The chorus is slower and larger sounding with chant-like vocals that create an intense and cathartic experience.

While the vocals aren’t much to speak of, the blues riff and rocking snare beat of “Naked Sun” make it a fun song to groove to. The horn and sax solos after the first verse prove it even funkier. However, the best part of “Naked Sun” is its breakdown. Loud, full sounding guitar, horn and drums combined with undecipherable chanted lyrics create an incredibly moving final two minutes that close the song with a certain intensity unmatched by any other on the album.

Finally, “Life” makes use of piano and guitar effects to create an eerie aura. The chorus’s ominous lyrics are sung softly, adding to the strange emotion surrounding the song. The song ends with just piano and a new female vocalist pouring out incredibly beautiful vocals that fit the delicate nature of the lyrics.

Overall, “So Divided,” while not Trail of Dead’s best album, has some incredibly powerful moments to it and is definitely worth purchasing (or downloading on Ruckus). Just make sure you skip the intro and segue.

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