Album Review :
The Myriad - Prelude to Arrows

Band: The Myriad
Title: Prelude to Arrows
Label: Kock Records
Review By: Julio D. Anta
Tracklisting:

01. Forget What You Came For
02. A Thousand Winters Melting
03. The Holiest Of Thieves
04. “Don’t Let Them See You!”
05. We Will Be Disappointed Together (arrow version)
06. BONUS: Sneak Peak at With Arrows, With Poise

Members/Duties:

Jeremy Edwardson: Vocals, Guitar, Programming
John Schofield: Bass
Steven Tracy: Guitar, Keys, Programming
Jonathan Young: Guitar, Cello Bow
Randy Miller: Drums

Currently being spun on MTV2 via “Dew Circuit Breakout” promos every other commercial break (or at least every time I give that piece of crap channel a chance at pleasing my eyes), Seattle natives The Myriad are on the verge of releasing their highly anticipated sophomore effort With Arrows, With Poise. Notoriously known as the most criticized album in a bands career, the second record’s low points are always compared to the first record’s high points. “Their new album isn’t as heavy as their last,” “Their new album is too heavy,” “What happened to all the catchy melodies?” and “I don’t think they’re Christian anymore, all they sing about is girls.” All these are quotes taken from this very webzine. My point… it’s okay for you to worry about your favorite bands second album; They do a great job at letting us down (Emery’s The Question I’m talking to you).

With that said, The Myriad fans, you have nothing to worry about. Though, the bands sophomore album has yet to hit stores, Prelude to Arrows, the limited edition EP (offered exclusively through the bands webstore) offers a five song glimpse into what will make up With Arrows, With Poise.

Opening with “Forget What You Came For,” piano’s drive the song from the wide ambiance filled intro into a more stripped down verse where “As all the lives go down you’ll see/ that things aren’t what they seem/for the sounds that spin you round, will crush your bones” is sung by vocalist/ guitarist Jeremy Edwardson before opening back into the fuller sound – a trend that continues throughout the rest of the track.

Fusing vocals reminiscent to those of Radiohead’s Thom Yorke and the ethereal sonic atmospheres The Myriad are known and celebrated for, “The Holiest Of Thieves” goes down as on of the album’s stand-out tracks along with “Don’t Let Them See You.” Basically the only song with audible guitar distortion, “Don’t Let Them See You” makes great use of the distorted guitars by creating a wall of sound rivaled to that of post-rock instrumental bands.

The album closes with a bonus track titled “Sneak Peak At With Arrows, With Poise.” Composed of snippets from many of the songs on the upcoming album, members of The Myriad talk about the songs, writing and recording process which took place Seattle, Detroit, Berlin, and London. Tentatively scheduled for a Spring 2008 release, With Arrows, With Poise is looking to be one of my most anticipated albums of the year.