Review: Radius System – Escape / Restart

Radius System’s latest album is such an ambitious project that it has taken the band three years to get to this point (apparently there is still more to come.) Like Nine Inch Nails’ most recent album, Escape / Restart features different pieces of artwork to complement the music, and, while the trio’s budget isn’t quite as large as Trent Reznor’s, they’ve managed to deliver a series of spacey pictures that correspond to a specific moment in each song. Not quite finished yet is an animation for each track. Also like Nine Inch Nails, the band have released the album for free on their website.

Musically, Radius System combine the dramatic dynamics of post-rock guitars with the delicate vocals and tighter songs of Dredg’s artsy rock. The influence of Oceansize saturates Escape / Restart, but there are key differences between the band. Most noticeable is Radius System’s quicker songwriting. They’re not afraid to stretch songs passed the 6-minute mark, but they move through ideas much faster than Oceansize’s molasses flow. This has mixed results: Radius System rarely try my patience as Oceansize sometimes do, but their transitions can sometimes be jarring, such as the spurts of metal and screaming during “Release Chemicals”.

Luckily these inconsistencies are few and are made up for by the albums strengths. Minimal electronic clicks and beeps and layered guitars give the album a warm and rewarding atmosphere, even if the recording does sound a little off (I’m not sure why, but cranking the volume solves most of the problem). Greg’s vocals sometimes seem to blend in with his guitars, but he still manages to give a strong and emotional performance. His voice manages to push the music to the point of giving me chills. Even though it’s 46-minutes long, Escape / Restart leaves me wanting more, and the best moments hint that Radius System are capable of more.

- Jeff Mcquiggan