Their fourth album,
Pins and Needles finds
the Birthday Massacre evolving their sound, pushing their synth rock into bigger and more atmospheric directions with the help of some slick production and a more refined approach to songwriting. While the album still has the dark, gothic tone the band is known for, the songs here also have an industrial vibe to them. With production by
Skinny Puppy producer Dave “Rave” Ogilvie, it’s clear where
Pins and Needles' newfound heaviness comes from. Fortunately for
the Birthday Massacre, this new sound works for them. The thick, crunchy guitar work and spacy synthesizers blend together well, giving the songs a more spacious feeling and creating some wide open spaces for singer Chibi’s vocals to explore. Longtime fans might have to do some adjusting to this more straightforward approach, but if they stick with it, they’ll find
Pins and Needles to be
the Birthday Massacre’s biggest and most expansive record yet. ~ Gregory Heaney