thePicassos, "Divination Scars: among the dead in symmetry" Album Review

"Avant-Goth". "Death Folk". "Cemetery Punk". All are fitting descriptors for Michigan's own thePicassos. Yet, none of these fully capture the true depth of their sound, and their newest full length, "Divination Scars: among the dead in symmetry" is proof of this. The album begins strong with opening track "Wicker Casket", bringing in sounds from influences found outside the typical Goth genre. The guitars jangle, but not in the way that most post-punk enthusiasts are familiar with, and the vocals, melodious and drenched in reverb, sound more like The Pixies going through a deep depression. The mood shifts completely on the next track, "Leather Wings (the blood is the life)", which marches forward like a funeral dirge in the best sense. The entire album carries so many different influences and sounds, ranging from deathrock to folk, post-punk to indie, with even a little Mid-West post-hardcore ( I REFUSE to use the term "screamo" because it is utter nonsense) thrown in for good measure, all layered in between a little bit of cabaret. The most incredible thing about this album is the fact that there are so many different influences on display, yet thePicassos manage to all blend it together into a cohesive sound. More so, not one song on the entire album sounds like the one before it. This is, in this writer's opinion, a sign of true innovation. As we start counting down to the end of the year, "Divination Scars: among the dead in symmetry" is a strong contender for album of the year.