East of the Wall

East of the Wall can't decide if they want to be At the Drive-In or the Mars Volta. Some of The Apologist does a great job of capturing ATDI's fun, groovy, math rock, indie-core sound. Unfortunately, it also does a great job of sounding like an extended jam session between Rush and the Mars Volta ― you most likely haven't heard this many annoying Phish-y style bass jams in a while. It's odd because the songs start strong, showcasing the band's strengths, which include writing ominous prog-rock riffs and shared yelling between Brett Bamberger (bass), Chris Alfano (guitar), Kevin Conway (guitar) and Matt Lupo (guitar). However, the problems arise when they move into instrumental sections and totally lose focus. Once they drift out of the confines of the verse/chorus structure, East of the Wall soar into another style of music altogether, one that doesn't complement their heavier aspects. In the end, you're left with an album that you want to like, but actually can't stand.