Atlanta post-hardcore/experimental outfit O’Brother are about to make waves. Tsunami-size waves. With the release of their debut record, Garden Window, via Triple Crown and Favorite Gentlemen Records, Tanner Merritt (vocals), Aaron Wamack (guitar), Michael Martens (drums), and brothers Johnny and Anton Dang (guitar and bass, respectively), have crafted an exposé of melodic extravagance that can only be described as intense. Working with Manchester Orchestra and Bad Book’s Andy Hull, O’Brother’s debut record is a lyrical gem held back by the unchecked youthful ambition of its creators. 

Garden Window is unbelievably dense, a trait that is both the record’s strong suit and weakest point. The thick and murky “Bear” and closer “Last Breath” are heavy and melodic without flailing into metal territory. The latter shows off the expertise of drummer Michael Martens, who plays with such conviction throughout Garden Window. “Lo” and “Sputnik” are aggressive and punishing without over relying on screams. Andy Hull’s touch is both blatantly apparent (as he makes a guest appearance on “Sputnik”) and subtle (as the grand sound of Manchester Orchestra’s Simple Math is reflected throughout Garden Window). Yet, the density of some tracks truly drags the listener into a bog of sounds. The nearly eight minute epic “Poison!” could be cut down by four minutes and the song would still retain its integrity. Less is sometimes more. “Poison!”’s position as the fourth song on Garden Window is questionable as well, deflating any momentum the beginning of the record accumulated. 

Garden Window is a difficult record to listen to in one sitting, but is certainly worth multiple listens. There are slight intricacies (a whispered pro here, a delicate chord change there) dispersed throughout the record that can only be discovered through repeated, focused listens. The slow rising “Easy Talk (Open Your Mouth)” is a beautiful song, climaxing with a loop of “Why don’t you open your mouth and let it out now // Why don’t you open your mouth and let it all out.” The dichotomy of “Machines Part I” and “Machines Part II” is much inclined with the offerings of The Dillinger Escape Plan. Yet, the fourteen minute (yes, fourteen minute) “Cleanse Me” is slightly too ambitious. Although, Tanner Merritt does offer up the lyrical gem, “Mine may be the words unwisely sewn, to cultivate the path that I have chose // Mine may be the words you’ll never know but lay me in the dirt and I will grow.” 

There is anger and passion permeating from every line sung, and every note played, by O’Brother. Alas, the quintet needs someone to channel that anger and passion into a more concise product. This does not mean that O’Brother must abandon their grandiose arrangements and haughty ambitions. Rather, the group could find value in getting their point across in a more streamlined, efficient manner without sacrificing their artistic liberties. Garden Window, is by and a large, a resounding success. Many will be shocked to learn that this is a debut album. O’Brother will be making much more noise in the future.

★★★.5/★★★★★

*This review was composed by Mike Meeze