Souls Swords Secrets is the debut LP from Incura, a Vancouver based quintet who have a growing fan base and are expected to break out in the very new future. Originally from Lethbridge, Alberta, they collectively moved to Vancouver to try and take the band places as they had more opportunities in the big city. And indeed, if they were to get noticed and finally achieve success, it would be well earned as they've been playing together for years and have a lot of buzz around their live performances. Their music easily fits the hard rock genre, but sets itself apart from its peers primarily due to their memorable lead singer, Kyle Gruninger. I recall Queen's Freddie Mercury and The Mars Volta's Cedric Bixler-Zavala while listening to him hit some impressive notes. His voice has a raw energy to it that lends some credibility to the angst ridden lyrics, as they're both so over the top that you either have to shrug them off or indulge blissfully, not unlike early Muse. This all lends to the edgy tortured soul image of the band, which admittedly is a bit silly, but I've never been one for dyed dark hair and eye shadow. Perhaps they really are tortured souls? I'm not going to dwell on it. Their music is a few steps ahead of their peers as they break from typical rock song writing. They often playing around with crescendo and timing, while also staying away from a typical verse/chorus structure. It's not far enough to be considered “progressive,” but they do come across as creative. While I have compared them to other groups, they are a band with a distinctive voice, which is something that many other fledgling acts can't say. They have a style and mood that is very much their own. Too often newer bands sound like preexisting, more influential acts. The album maintains their emotional and aggressive hard rock sound, which is both a strength and weakness. Fans of the genre will bask in the dynamic, high tempo song writing because it certainly does have a charm to it. Personally, however, I would prefer an album with a little more diversity. About half way through this, I pretty much had everything that followed pegged. On a rock compilation, most of these songs would stand out pretty well, but when put together they start to get repetitive. They have excelled greatly at writing four and half minute long emotional rock tunes, but I'd like to see what else they're capable of. Souls Swords Secrets came out in 2007 so where are Incura now? Well, since then they released The Lost EP in 2009, which I haven't heard yet, but have been told it is an improvement. Currently they're in Los Angeles recording a new EP. It is expected to launch their careers into new heights, and with any luck that means their music will be elevated to something more grand also. Whatever the case, they serve their genre well and are one of the acts to watch in Vancouver. Review by "Doug Ferguson" (www.sourgrapeswinery.com).
RATING: 7 / 10
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