Straight Line Stitch –Transparency

Straight Line Stitch seem to have the problem that many would associate with Guns N Roses: there’s only one original member left – Alexis Brown (vocals). Unlike Guns N Roses, however, Straight Line Stitch is still going strong and don’t seem to be losing any steam, despite having 20 previous members. From the band’s inception in 2000 in Knoxville, Tennessee, Alexis has shown that no matter what incarnation the band goes through, they can display anything from punk to the heavier side of the metal genre. Their upcoming EP, Transparency, shows the band exploring new musical avenues, and each track just goes to show that no matter what you give Straight Line Stitch, they’ll make it into something so much more, while telling you to go back to the drawing board and come back when you have something better to show them. The only way I can criticise this EP is through nit picking at certain things. This “certain thing” is the instrumental at the beginning. My argument is that for an EP, it’s just wasting a track, or just making an excuse to put another one on there. As nice as it is, it doesn’t transition well to the second track “Dark Matter”, but the track picks up the pace of the EP. Alexis’ screams cut through the music along with her powerful cleans, which are pushed aloft by the rest of the band, who follow in a musical and militaristic bombardment of powerful and staccato riffs. “Out of Body” also features an instrumental piece at the beginning of the track. It’s not long until Straight Line Stitch show a much softer side, emotional vocals and guitar riffs that flow seamlessly in the background. I thought a track like this would appear towards the end, however surprises are abound in this little bag of tricks. “Face of God” picks up the heavier side of “Dark Matter”, and damn, Alexis’ growls just shine, competing with the Jason White’s guitar tone , just as it descends into a chaotic breakdown,  still bringing in a much needed accessible sound that will definitely appeal to the masses. Trying to compare this EP to SLS’s older material seems to be an idiotic choice to make, as each stands out like an array of paintings by an artist, each different to their own. “Wilderness” just bursts into a whirlwind of Jason’s harmonizing yet deadly riffs, and Alexis once again taking centre stage with her growls and her pop-esque cleans that blend into the music. “Human Bondage” ends the EP on a high note, it’s schizophrenic musical choice works quite well with the heavier parts of the verse juxtaposing with the chorus, which is bound to get fists pumping and heads banging. The EP sounds quite experimental, not following the same formula each time, however there aren’t really any places where Transparency loses its step. Granted, the only set back would just be the instrumental at the start, but after that hurdle is passed the EP just grows into a monolith, and relentlessly sucks you into the world of Straight Line Stitch, a world you wouldn’t mind staying in.

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