Lebatol/Planet Brain Split

Tom Rumbold

– 3 Aug 2009Posted in: Album reviews

Album: Lebatol/Planet Brain Split
Artists: Lebatol, Planet Brain
Label: Function Records
Release date: 7th September 2009

Personally, I’m always slightly confused by split albums. Mostly because trying to review an entire album made up of contributions from two different bands is difficult to me – so in this review I’ve decided to give both Lebatol and Planet Brain their own space, instead of trying to review the album as a whole.

Lebatol open the album with “4×94″ – a thudding, proggy rock tune. It’s solid stuff, but let down a little in terms of dynamics, and perhaps the weakest of the Lebatol efforts. However, “3 Kinds Of Today” is excellent – intricate guitar compositions combined with driving bass tones and impassioned vocals are vaguely reminiscent of some of the more accessible Fall Of Troy material.

Standout tune “????” carries a huge stadium sound – a twisted and melodic anthem with the strongest vocal performance from the Lebatol camp. They’re a genuinely strong band with plenty of ideas, and in some parts sound a little like Mute Math.

Planet Brain, despite the dubious band name, are nothing short of brilliant. Their combination of alternative rock burners and progressive, clean instrumental sections come across like a more accessible Mars Volta. Singer Marcio Batelli is arguably the star of the album; with his giant voice and huge command of melody, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to compare his vocal talent to that of chart giants Muse’s Matt Bellamy.

“Jupiter Completes It’s Orbit” is a gargantuan rock song, holding a weight of atmospherics, distorted guitars and flawless vocals – but the band really shines on slow burner “The Fog In Between”. It’s a gorgeous set of clean guitars, beautiful vocal melodies and prog instrumentation, before breaking into a massive anthem, and it’s genuinely brilliant.

Lebatol and Planet Brain are a well-matched pair to release a split together – but it’s Planet Brain that are the stars of the record this time round. Fans of dirty, progressive rock songs will do well to pay attention to both bands.

Planet Brain

Our Arbitrary Numerical Verdict: