No Signal team up on an edgy, indulgence of deep, heavy rhythmic core. Their debut album “Seat of Dreams” allows the hardcore band to muster a raw, thrilling assault against complacency.
Led by frontman Riley Schmelzer, he cements himself with his vocal pummeling and roots the songs with great precision. His sharp and staccato on verses that build to explosive hooks, and offers plenty of unexpected details which include yelps and croons.
Though the band focuses on moments of open vulnerability, there are a few tracks which are otherwise straightforwardly aggressive. No Signal move beyond the simple amplifier worship, and they build audacious records, as high on concepts as they are on decibels.
With tracks such as “Todd” and “The Awakening”, the band share a rare chemistry; they are able to work through extended riffs at striking pace and at high volumes with absolute control. No Signal capture their sound in perfect detail, so that you can practically feel their fingers crawling down their guitars’ necks.
But as you continuously listen to the album, one thing you notice and is immediately striking about Seat of Dreams is the astonishing grace and dexterity the band performs on such heavy decibel loads without compromising quality.
In particular, on the single “The Storm”, it employs classic guitar playing, cycling through riffs and webbing together the spaces between notes with rays of atmospheric vocals. Each note lands as another stomp to the chest, each roaring gap between them like an attempt to massage away the pain.
It’s the most gratifying sensation when stumbling through a bunch of records in search of wholehearted music and you get to find out a band like No Signal exists, and be able to come up with highly engaging and captivating music. At its best, their debut LP Seat of Dreams can be breathtaking by surprise, with stunning moments nested inside expected settings.
