Pattern Seeking Animals
s/t

Label: InsideOut
Three similar bands: Spock's Beard/The Flower Kings/Karmakanik

Rating: HHHHHHH (5/7)
Reviewer: Daniel Källmalm
Tracks
1. No Burden Left to Carry
2. The Same Mistakes Again
3. Orphans of the Universe
4. No One Ever Died and Made Me King
5. Fall Away
6. These Are My Things
7. We Write the Ghost Stories
8. No Land’s Man
9. Stars Along the Way


Band:
John Boegehold - synths, keyboards
Ted Leonard - vocals & guitar
Dave Meros - bass
Jimmy Keegan - drums & vocals


Discography:
Debut


Guests:


Info:

Released 2019-07-05
Reviewed 2020-01-04

Links:
psanimals1.com

insideout


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Animals looking for patterns is what we get here when a quartet of Spock’s Beard related guys put together a first self-titled album. It is John Boegehold who contributes songs and helps with production of Spock’s Beard albums that is the main guy behind the band, but Dave Meros and Ted Leonard are also credited for some co-authoring and the final guy in the band is former Spock’s Beard drummer Jimmy Keegan. So it is natural that there will be comparisons with the beard even though Boegehold states in the press material that he uses material that he wouldn’t normally use for Spock’s Beard and that he was looking for something that was both intricate as well as immediate and melodic.

I think no one would have been surprised to hear any of these songs on an album by Spock’s Beard, I think it is relatively near to the album The Oblivion Particle if you want to have a comparison. It is progressive rock music, quite catchy yet intricate and fairly complex. Easily accessible and melodic but with depth that gives longevity, a strong production that might not be overly original but probably fresh enough for the sense of novelty you need to make a new album seem relevant. The songs vary between longer and shorter and the playing time feels well weighted and not too long even though it is close to an hour long, fans of Spock’s Beard should certainly take notice.

Really good album with impressive songs and some great hooks, I think there is enough catchiness here to bring the listener back many times. With songs that is instantly gratifying and longer epic songs they come up with a solid creation that should appeal not only to fans of the progressive rock genre but could also have a wide appeal. If you are a fan of Spock’s Beard you should definitely have a look at this album, and the same goes for those into the progressive rock genre.

Pattern Seeking Animals is a great debut album and it promises a lot for the future as they have already stated that they are working on a second album and that they plan to do some touring as well, a band worth following I think. If you haven’t already, it is certainly worth looking closer at this great album and it looks quite good as well. With that conclusion I can end this review and get back to listening to this fine album, or the next one to review.

HHHHHHH