Chiodos – Bone Palace Ballet

 

Die hard Chiodos fans might despise the band’s newest opus Bone Palace Ballet.  It’s much different that even I was expecting, but it’s all for the better.  The album debuted on the charts at Number 5 in its first week and with good reason.  Chiodos has definitely set themselves above the competition with Bone Palace Ballet.  It’s orchestral, with plenty of guitar slinging, but an overall mellow and mysterious vibe.

The album opens with “Is it Progression if a Cannibal Uses a Fork,” which not only gets an award for an awesome title, but is complete with high pitched vocals, metallic guitar riffage and a dark hooky feeling.  “Bulls Make Money, Bears Make Money, Pigs Get Slaughtered” is driven by fast-paced drums and harmonic screams, while “A Letter From Janelle” is simply a mystic arena anthem.

“Teeth the Size of Piano Keys” and “The Undertaker’s Thirst for Revenge is Unquenchable (The Final Battle)” are probably two of the heaviest tracks on the record, but I kept finding myself writing “epic” down to describe the songs on Bone Palace Ballet.  “Intensity in Ten Cities” and “Life is a Perception of Your Own Reality” are on the mellow side, but also sound gigantic.

Bone Palace Ballet puts Chiodos in line to be the next arena band and we’re totally okay with that.  I give this album a 9 (out of 10).  Its dynamics are intense and constantly keep listeners guessing, which makes Chiodos a little different than everyone else in this watered down genre.

Suggested Listening: “I Didn’t Say I was Powerful, I Said I Was a Wizard” and “Lexington (Joey Pea-Pot with a Monkey Face)”

By: Adam K. Zakroczymski, III – Senior Editor / Founder

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