Art Vandelay - The Human Comedy

The fact that Art Vandelay is able to so easily traverse musical styles without getting lost in the whirlwind is quite an achievement.

Ordinarily you’d assume that a post-hardcore band that derives its name from a Seinfeld character wouldn’t be much chop, but as Kramer would say “You might think so, but you be wrong!” After listening to The Human Comedy, the debut album of Brisbane three-piece Art Vandelay, what stands out as most impressive is the album’s sheer diversity and scope whilst maintaining a high standard of quality. Art Vandelay proves itself to be rather flexible as they effortlessly move across genres to create different sounds. Yet they never fail to stamp each song with their imprint to ensure the audience always knows what they’re listening to.

Track number three, “There’s More to Life Than New Curtains and a New Window,” is a song that can hold its own against any hardcore outfit, as the vocals and crunchy guitar explode from the outset, before spiraling out of control. While “Donec Floruit” and “Hope Still for the Penguin” go down a more post-hardcore route; darkness and brooding stand side by side with melodic and catchy breakdowns that will have even the most jaded punter singing along. The middle track, “Epicentre,” changes gears yet again. A slow burning love song, “Epicentre” almost loses its way but instead builds to an epic crashing symphony at the end that just about steals the show on an album filled with highlights.

Bassist Josh Coxon does a stellar job on lead vocals. Coxon has the difficult task of having to switch from the angry, guttural screams of “There’s More to Life…” to the soaring choruses of “Hope Still…” yet he manages to rise to the occasion, hitting every line with a raw emotion that leaves the listener enthralled.

Even after listening to this record several times, it’s still hard to fathom that this is Art Vandelay’s debut album. It sounds more like the work of a more seasoned outfit that already has three albums under its belt and is now looking to rejuvenate their repertoire. The fact that Art Vandelay is able to so easily traverse musical styles without getting lost in the whirlwind is quite an achievement. The Human Comedy is an album that every post-hardcore fan should check out and marks the arrival of a band that could do great things in the not to distant future.

(Skull and Bones Records)