Alpha Male Tea Party, "Health" Review
The English have always been obsessed with instrumental prog-rock like no one else on the planet. Weary trips with early Genesis or Pink Floyd when Syd Barrett controlled the drugs began this genre, with recent bands like the unfortunately named Alpha Male Tea Party picking up this mostly instrumental banner.
The difference here is that Liverpool’s AMTP are loud, really loud, borrowing heavily from punk and metal to craft their sonic assault. They sub-divide each musical measure using advanced calculus to craft stop-and-go riffs that begin with a wall of juiced-up tele guitar run through a dozen pedals into colossal amps each set on stun.
The result on their newest record “Health” is a surprisingly melodic at times. This trio has some interesting musical ideas that they explore, but the requirements of the instrumental prog-rock genre and their insistence on eventually incinerating their audience with every tune ultimately leaves me wishing for a little bit more restraint and my head sore from doing the math.
Chris Brown
The difference here is that Liverpool’s AMTP are loud, really loud, borrowing heavily from punk and metal to craft their sonic assault. They sub-divide each musical measure using advanced calculus to craft stop-and-go riffs that begin with a wall of juiced-up tele guitar run through a dozen pedals into colossal amps each set on stun.
The result on their newest record “Health” is a surprisingly melodic at times. This trio has some interesting musical ideas that they explore, but the requirements of the instrumental prog-rock genre and their insistence on eventually incinerating their audience with every tune ultimately leaves me wishing for a little bit more restraint and my head sore from doing the math.
Chris Brown
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