Motherkissers
Cage the water

So far, the young Memorial Records hadn't missed a beat, one must admit. Few productions but well-targeted, but sooner or later, as we know, the misstep comes. In their case, this takes the form of “Cage the water”, the debut album of the Lombardy-based Motherkissers. A band with a decidedly intense live activity – especially outside our borders – but unfortunately, when it comes to the recording side, they have decidedly "flopped" in my opinion, presenting themselves in such "retro" attire as to appear almost completely out of time. Their sound is a nostalgic tribute to the late '90s/early new millennium, that period when System Of A Down, Incubus, and Roadrunner productions post-eponymous Slipknot (36 Crazyfists, Spineshank…) dominated the market, all made "modern" through some passages dear to early New Millennium metalcore. Let's be clear: the album itself has its reasons, although stylistically they do not offer the listener anything new in terms of instrumentation and song form, nothing to complain about, we are talking about now mature musicians with previous musical experiences behind them, so it's fair to give them credit for what they have managed to create, all in all. Their passion for these sounds has perhaps pushed them a bit too far, leading them to emulate the myths of the past and overshadowing the creativity that must be at the heart of such projects. The vocal interpretation of the tracks is a plus for Motherkissers, balanced both in melodic tones and shouted ones. The best episodes of this “Cage the water” turn out to be the single “Aeons” (on which a nice video available on YouTube was also shot) and “Lost in paradox”, tracks on which Motherkissers should restart in search of their own path. The production is overall in line with what was heard years ago, not too boosted sounds and vocals standing out. In conclusion, it's unfortunate to admit it but this record does not have the right weight to be considered worthy of attention by those who are used to dealing with what is published weekly in the alternative key, if, however, you are incurable nostalgics a listen is all in all recommended because – as mentioned – Motherkissers performed their task quite well, unfortunately emerging about fourteen years too late.