LUNAR RUINS: THE EXPANSE ALBUM REVIEW
Lunar Ruins is a Grunge-Alt Metal solo project by David Partridge from Naarm/Melbourne, and he has released his Debut Album 'The Expanse'. Lunar Ruins hit the scene this year with their single 'Glare' on March 4th. The Expanse consists of nine tracks so let's jump right in and break them down. I’ve felt the weight down, I’ve felt the fall I’ve worn the hate crown, Incomplete and small, And I know I’m the one, That you’ve changed and undone, And I know, I’m the one, You’ve played along. The Expanse opens with Bent featuring Duncan Robertson. Bent has a distinctly goth wave undertone and something akin to The Living End in musicality, that will have you swaying in place. I was particularly enraptured with dramatic and clean drums that bring in an interesting punk inflection to the moody metal guitars. The choir style vocals throughout the track add a level of haunting mystery. Bent takes a sinister turn around the two-third point, with a drop in tone that will hold you on edge for the remainder of the song. And I know I’m the one, That you’ve changed and undone, And I know I’m the one, You’ve played along, And I know I’m the one, That you’ve changed and undone, And I know I’m the one, Whose bent all wrong, Did you know I’m the one.
Gone is the atmosphere, And all that’s left is haze, Where does that secret hide, Or will it show its face again, There is a place somewhere, A place that blends the days, Maybe I’ll catch a ride and let it take me to the end. Next up for the Album is Blunt, where the Grunge aspect of the band properly shows its head. With drawling and distorted vocals and "lazy" guitar. Blunt drives home the 90s metal inspiration with its nostalgic guitar riffs and atmosphere. Blunt would fit perfectly in a 90s dive bar movie scene. Don’t give it don’t give it away, But if you give it a name, It’ll swallow the sound, And if you give it away the blunt ends coming for you. But if you give it a name, It’ll swallow it down, And if you give it away the blunt ends coming for you.
I wanted to be inside your mind, I wanted to see behind those eyes, Can I get in figure you out, Can I get in, make you mine, Can I get in figure you out, Can I get in, be divine, I wanted to feel the things you feel, I wanted to do the things you do. Core sees the return of Duncan Robertson and a switch of styles once more, with something lighter and upbeat in sound at the beginning which moves to a grittier, frustrated and possessive melody. The layering of the vocals adds a chaotic element to Core that keeps the song from ever remaining stagnant and will have you guessing where you will be taken next. The lyrics play out like an internal monologue speaking of longing for connection and missed opportunities. Can I get in figure you out, There is no escape, Can I get in, make you mine, My dreads encased, Can I get in, figure you out, I’m losing my soul, Can I get in, be divine, Wish I’d never known.
Next up is Overboard, a five minute and twenty-one second instrumental palate cleanser of smooth guitar riffs, easy listening drums and groove bass that will have you with your eyes closed and vibing to the music.
It’s a lonely way, when you walk alone There’s no one else watching, no one to condone The air it feels alive, my senses on the high A feeling that escapes me, look up in the sky. At the half way point for The Expanse, we are greeted with the addition of Renee Partridge on vocals for the track Glare. Glare holds the energy of the 1994 film, The Crow; gritty, grimmy, spooky and unsettling in the most interesting way, with vocals similar to that of Elizabeth Thompson of Medicine who appears in the film. The effect over Renee's vocals makes it sound like you are hearing her through an old-timey haunted radio and while it made my body tingle from head-to-toe, it was like looking into the Sun and not being able to turn away. Throughout my first listen of the track, I wasn't sure I understood what was in front of me, but by the third play through I had properly connected and while it is a bit of a left centre track, it is interesting to listen to. There’s a pain within my head, And my hands are frozen cold, In the glare I only dread, While the minds are taking hold.
Countless is another instrumental piece, totalling at four minutes and fifty-four seconds. There is something cheeky and a little moody in the music of Countless that pulled me back my childhood in the mid-90s, playing with my cousins in their backyard on a Summer's evening, as they jumped off the roof to "body slam" each other just like the wrestlers do, while popular rock music of the day blasted through the windows from the partying parents inside. Nostalgic and familiar while holding something of Early 2000s Pop-Punk in it's clutches.
I see the shadow of the, Devil in the sky, What do you think you’ll be like when it’s time to die. Shifting from the playful Countless we move into Earthless. Earthless drives home the Grunge aspect once more, with drawling vocals, moody bass lines, filthy guitars and rhythmic drums. A song about knowing you are going to hell, but you are actually already there because you are on Earth; hitting all those teenage angst feelings of rebellion and "I'm already in hell so fuck it". I got a feeling I know where I’m going, I’m going nowhere at all, I got a message to take down to Satan, This earth is hell re evolved.
Can you unravel it, Now you must relearn, Take all the misery that’s held you back again, Come out of hiding, it’s time to return, You are your saviour only you can make the change. We move into Crank and return to the punk undertones as the song moves from finger sliding the guitar fret board into a punchy and energetic atmosphere. I can't put my finger on exactly why, buy Crank insights the same feelings within me as Youth of the Nation by P.O.D. Crank holds the theme of, you are the solution to your problems and repeating the same pattern is getting you nowhere. Sometimes to escape you need to burn the bridge. Don’t slip away, Don’t fall away, Don’t come undone, Take aim to win the war, Light it up and let it burn.
Finishing off The Expanse is Expanse, a four minute and fifty-one second instrumental piece. The song begins light and free and gradually builds to something ravenous and all consuming. While I had my eyes closed listening to this one I had visions of the rapidly expanding universe.
The Expanse is an interesting blend of genres that will keep you on your toes. While sometimes the switch of genres between tracks can be a little abrupt it is clear that David has a huge range of musical knowledge and knows how to put that to use.
For Fans Of: Soundgarden, Medicine, P.O.D and The Living End
8/10
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