A Murder of Crows, the second album by
Dead Soul Tribe, carries further the ideas introduced in the group's debut. Devon Graves' lyrics determine the atmosphere shifts in the music (pretty dark in general) and his guitar drives the band into progressive metal territory. This conceptual album revolves around the idea that crows carry the souls of the dead to the afterlife. So what happens to souls that crows were unable to get to? This plot can lead to very routine places, but Graves develops it intelligently and without letting it become a prison. Lyrics are occasionally pretentious, but in general they work well with the guitar-heavy rock of the band (the lineup has been augmented by Roland "Rollz" Kerschbaumer on rhythm guitar, for extra crunch). The opener, the two-part "Feed," sets the parameters very quickly, presenting the soft and rough sides of
Dead Soul Tribe. After that, there won't be any surprises, but you will encounter a few strong melodies, especially in "The Messenger," "Crows on the Wire," and "I'm Not Waving." For "Black Smoke and Mirrors" the guys take out the acoustic guitars to deliver a sweet-and-sour song topped in its heavier section by a fluttering flute solo. The last song, "Time," is identified as a bonus track, but why it shouldn't belong to the "main" part of the album remains unclear. Maybe because it has a lighter feel. ~ François Couture