Complexity, both melodic and rhythmic, has been a fundamental aspect of metal since the genre’s inception. Whether it was Bill Ward’s jazzy approach to drumming on Black Sabbath‘s material (R.I.P. Ozzy) or the layered arrangements of Led Zeppelin, metal’s intensity has been linked to its intricacy since the beginning. That connection has only grown stronger over time. Car Bomb has been at or near the forefront of creating metal that is as heavy as it is challenging to perform since they formed nearly 25 years ago in New York. Their independent, detail-oriented approach to all things music business aligns with the intentionality of their frenetic, progressive-death-metal-meets-mathcore sound, honed to unimaginably sharp points on releases like 2019’s Mordial, their most recent full-length. Six years later, the mathcore masters are back with the three-song EP, Tiles Whisper Dreams.
With three songs, there is 0 room for error to make an effective statement. Thankfully, Car Bomb is more than familiar with having no room for error. The three songs on Tiles Whisper Dreams hit hard, offering a microcosm of what I think any Car Bomb fan would want from the quartet. Opening with “Blindsides”, creeping ambience morphs into what I will affectionately call ‘laser sounds’ from guitarist Greg Kubacki, with Michael Dafferner’s growls and Elliot Hoffmann’s drums bringing a level of crushing complexity that fans of the band will salivate over. In short, Car Bomb sounds like Car Bomb here, but there are some proggy riffs, octave guitars, and robotic cleans that add novel dynamics to the group’s signature sound.
The first single, and second of three tracks on the EP, “Paroxysm”, adds little deviation to the mix of Car Bomb‘s furious formula. Still, Kubacki’s dissonant lead lines are an enjoyable highlight of the impressive, angular track. Johann Meyer’s mix hits particularly effectively here, ensuring that the details of the quartet’s technical compositions are not lost in the chaos, while still retaining their intensity. The legendary Ted Jensen’s impressive mastering brings an exceptional production to life.
The EP’s title track closes out the release. While an unabashedly and unreservedly crushing EP, “Tiles Whisper Dreams” is perhaps the most remarkable example of Car Bomb‘s capacity for heaviness of the three tracks. Slightly slower and groovier than its counterparts, with some great two-step moments and a subtle but powerful performance from bassist Jon Modell, the song is sure to generate energetic, if slightly confused, mosh pits live.
With three songs and a twelve-minute runtime, it’s hard to say little else about Tiles Whisper Dreams except that it is definitely Car Bomb; the production is fantastic, and I want more. The EP may not introduce new fans to the band. Still, it is certainly an impressive, albeit brief, continuation of Car Bomb‘s singular sound and career.
