Initially,
Damiera is easily mistakable as just another new band aping the prog rock tones and helium vocals of bands before them. The expansive, exploring guitars and singer Dave Raymond's high-range pipes immediately bring to mind groups like
Coheed & Cambria, who are often accused of ripping off
Rush, and
Brazil, who use their instruments in a similar prancing effect. Once you get past such surface elements, however, it becomes clear that
Damierais offering something far more substantial.
M(US)ic, which means "Us In Music," is a record founded on melody, reveling in the layers and nuances these strong melodies can offer. The urgency of the album never seems to cease, even at its quieter or slower moments, making the listener feel as though the songs themselves were driving them through the album. Tracks like "I Am Pulse" and "Immure" are particularly propulsive, with heavily dancey guitars and spastic beats that recall post-punk bands like
At the Drive-In and
Minus the Bear. Newer bands often seem to suffer from a lack of focus, but everything about
Damiera's debut is concentrated, ringing with the sense that the band genuinely believes in their product. Sincerity and focus, it seems, go a long way. ~ Emily Zemler