The Lincoln Log

Heavy Heavy Low Low’s first debut full-length album Everything’s Watched, Everybody’s Watching, released September 19, 2006, is by far the best material they have ever made and is definitely a huge leap up from their previous demos.

Each of their tracks is no longer than two or three minutes long, which is great for all people like me, who have music ADHD. I personally would prefer not to hear a long six-minute track with the same melody to the extent where every song is blending together. I would need to change the track within the third minute. What’s so great about this album is that even though you can’t understand a word this band is saying, they make it melodic and interesting. The raw energy from their songs makes your heart pound faster.

The members of this local band from San Jose are screamer Robbie Smith, guitarist and vocalist Danny Rankin, guitarist Ryan Madden, drummer Christopher Fritter and bassist Andrew Fritter. They have amazing stage presence most of the time, when they’re sober at least. Just try not to catch them at a show while they’re intoxicated, which isn’t very rare for this party band. Words can’t even describe the feeling you get when their music is heard. The screamer, Robbie Smith sounds like he’s on the brink of a total drug-induced collapse. His voice shows angst and aimless pain as he slurs his screams while they’re accompanied by the occasional sex-driven moan. There are also some amazing pit-worthy breakdowns and vocals in every song that make this album an extremely rare gem, because you don’t ever find music like this.

I however, don’t like how the band remade some of the songs in their EP’s and cleaned it up, like they did to the song “Texas Chainsaw Masacr-uh.” Honestly, I prefer the original to the remakes. The CD is also quite short, with eleven songs each no longer than 2 minutes, you do the math guys- that’s a total of only twenty-two minutes. I would love for their album to be longer, which would make it more memorable, but keep in mind, it’s their first ever debut album.

If you enjoy nice, down-tempo music that’s able to fade into the background, I suggest you to steer away from this album. However, if you like nervous energy-ridden metalcore, distinguished screams, shifty chaotic drumming, where the singer sounds like he’s having an insane drugged out tantrum, I would recommend you to buy these tunes.

4 out of 5 stars