Diablo Swing Orchestra - PacifisticuffsBack in '12—when I was wearing an onion on my belt, as that was the way at the time—I encounteredDiablo Swing Orchestra for the offset time. These Swedish purveyors of the abstract and absurdly catchy had composed an album entitledPandora's Piñata that I downright loved.DSOwent into hibernation afterPP and resurfaced again with the news that their long-fourth dimension singer AnnLouice Lögdlund was leaving the band. Lögdlund's considerable lung capacity was replaced with Kristen Evegård, but unlike other band breakups when you lose a vocalist,DSO kept most of the rest of the ring in place and produced a new anthology. 2017'south newest record is the wittily entitledPacifisticuffs, which coming from Swedes is a great way of describing what appears to exist the Swedish cultural state of nature.1

Pacifisticuffs gets started on weak footing with "Knucklehugs (Arm Yourself with Dear)," a song that features a cringe-inducing "southern emphasis" and banjo, but improves. Similar to the band's previous albums,Pacifisticuffs is a pastiche of different styles—ranging from bluegrass ("Knucklhugs" and "Porch of Perception") to tango to ABBA-wayschlager/disco ("Jigsaw Hustle")—but the band manages to hold these things together with skill.DSO always manages to merge between styles with alacrity, demonstrating excellent musicianship and compositional flare. The record moves quickly, with 45 minutes pumping by, and no song passing the 5 minute mark. And information technology flows well—the dynamics of each song feed the next, making it an piece of cake listen. They lead y'all by the hand through each mood and style, making information technology easy to follow and a roller coaster of feels and sounds.

Pacifisticuffs was recorded and mixed in Gothenburg at Elevation Floor and was delayed because of problems with the mix. I'yard not entirely certain that it fabricated information technology through to the other side of those issues. I was struck immediately by the fact that the recording is flat; well-nigh claustrophobically brickwalled. After repeated listens, I've grown more accustomed to the sound, but it's not good. This has the effect of undermining the dynamic nature of one of metal's most interesting bands. Equally a octet, with 11 additional musicians, it is shocking that the majority of this record's tracks are mastered to a bone crunching DR5. This matters, and it undermines some of the record's amuse.

Simply it'southward tough to fuck upward what Diablo Swing Orchestra does—I did only telephone call them "one of metal's most interesting bands" after all. Despite some initial reservations, I found what nosotros all should take expected:Pacifisticuffsis witty, fun and well-written. And the album is not at all undermined past the otherbigchange: the vocal stylings of Evegård. While she might be controversial for some die-hard fans, I call back she offers a unique plough for the band. Her vox is small and sharp, more indie or jazzy than her predecessor. But while she'due south not operatic, she doesn't want for drama (see her performance on "Ode to the Innocent")—instead drawingstrongly on Kate Bush ("Interruption" quotes her straight). Bush-league's influence gives Evegård a Tori Amos vibe, and when backed upward by the band, information technology works well. The songs where she'southward the center of attention are carried admirably.

The record also has a flow that holds everything together; moving from rails-to-track like they're part of a symphonic organization, rather than feeling like a 'playlist'. All these elements combined—Evegård's voice with the other eighteen musicians involved—makes for a genuinely fun feel. While the not-quite-executed Americana and the product pull the album down compared to its predecessor,Pacifisticuffs is nevertheless a wild ride. "Superhero Jaggnath," "Lady Clandestine Chainbreaker," and "Interruption" are shining highlights, and despite initial hesitations I have simply kept coming dorsum. DSO is brilliant and idiosyncratic, andPacifisticuffs just demonstrates that all again.

Rating: Very Good!
DR: 7 | Format Reviewed: 192 kb/s mp3
Label:Candlelight / Spinefarm
Website:facebook.com/diabloswingorchestra
Releases Worldwide:December 8, 2017