In The Marrow is Dead Confederate’s first full-length in two years and follows their previous, Sugar. A lot of the production was done by the band’s bassist, Brantley Senn, in a period of about six months. This record begins with the seven-minute “Slow Poisons.” The bass and drums maintain the rhythm while the guitars stick out in the background. This song places an emphasis on background music while lead singer Hardy Morris’ vocals lay on top. There is a lot of exploration as the guitars bring it to a close. “Dead Poetry” and the title-track have a similar level of exploration, as the instruments create a wall of sound underneath the vocals. Both songs are about five minutes long and showcase the use of rhythm and lead guitars in addition to bass and drums.
I was originally drawn to this album with the mentioning of Morris having Cobain-like vocals. Sure enough, on tunes like “Vacations” and “Bleed-Through,” Morris’ voice is reminiscent to the late Nirvana frontman. These are my favorite tracks on the album due to the catchy riffs and roaring solos. In “Best Of The Worst,” the guitar riffs highlight the sound with the use of finger picking of chords and sustains in the background. The album closes out with “Big City Life” and “Winter Waters.” For these last two songs, the disc switches pace and displays a more intimate side of Morris’ vocals. Dead Confederate’s sound is a culmination of various music genres but more importantly, they are a rock band—one with unending riffs, solos, and vocals that remind us of past rock influences. The evolution of their sound throughout this album shows the group’s ability to play, write, and produce music, something that is truly admirable.
In A Word: Impressive
