Independent Student Newspaper Since 1969

The Badger Herald

Independent Student Newspaper Since 1969

The Badger Herald

Independent Student Newspaper Since 1969

The Badger Herald

Advertisements
Advertisements

Stressed? Try some ‘Noise Therapy’

When the typical American is asked to describe the Canadian music front, thoughts of gag-reflex-inducing acts such as the Crash Test Dummies, Celine Dion and Rush usually come to mind.

Thanks to the recent acceptance of nu-metal in the general population south of Mountie jurisdiction, Canada has finally been able to unleash its finest in hard rock. One of the most recent heavy acts to impact American airwaves from the land of the red maple leaf is Vancouver-based Noise Therapy.

Madisonites will get a chance to come face-to-face with this up-and-coming hard-rock powerhouse at Club Raven in nearby Edgerton, Wis. tonight when they arrive with fellow neo-aggro American brethren Seether, Ra and Social Burn.

Advertisements

By combining elements of industrial metal, electronica, rap-metal and modern hard rock, Noise Therapy has created its own trademark sound that sets it apart from the other nu-metal clones of today. With the group’s latest major label release, Tension, these three-album veteran rockers have finally been able to present their five years of musical maturity to a broader audience.

As evident on the album’s first single “Get Up,” every member of this aggressive-yet-melodic Northwest Coast band plays a vital role in the delivery of pure, unadulterated auditory energy.

From the album’s opening, electronically demented, phase-shifting drums and sampled guitar noise that eventually gives way to the audio equivalent of a steel-toed boot to the ear, Noise Therapy brilliantly demonstrates its ability to meld individual talents to create an atmosphere of metal insanity that contains many twists and turns while keeping the intensity on even keel.

With Dave Ottoson’s rhythmically-enriched lyrical approach, Bobby James’ rock-steady drumming, Rob Thiessen’s driving bass lines, James F’s intelligently utilized keyboard work and recently returned Methods of Mayhem hired gun, Kai, developing a fine equilibrium between pulsing rhythm guitar blasts and squealing leads, Noise Therapy is unafraid to prove that beauty and aggressiveness can co-exist in a three-minute nu-metal opus.

Although its music is solid throughout, the true evidence of

Noise Therapy’s maturation and commitment to spreading the gospel of distortion comes from the group’s live shows. While most heavy bands, unfortunately, overlook their female fan base until after the show, Noise Therapy strives to include the ladies in every aspect of its live show. It has become common knowledge among the estrogen-fueled fans of Noise Therapy that as soon as the chunky, muted guitar work of Kai and the soft crooning of Ottoson start off “Star 69 (Wait for Nothing),” the mosh pit

becomes a ladies-only territory of primal release.

“I noticed that a lot of bands say ‘This one goes out to all the ladies,’ so I thought we should do something a little different,” explains bassist Thiessen, “We tried to get all the ladies to do a pit and it went over, so now we do it every night.”

Aside from its work to make sure everyone enjoys its live show, Noise Therapy has proven its dedication to its fans off the stage, as well. Back in December, while talking with newly converted fan Brian Chambers after a show in Dallas, Kai became so moved while discussing playing the guitar that he gave the fan the custom-made guitar he used during his stint in Methods of Mayhem while touring with Ozzfest 2001.

“The kid reminded me of myself when I was younger and just starting to play the guitar,” said Kai. “I thought it would’ve been really cool if someone would have done the same for me when I was younger.”

Hard beats, crunching guitars, women slamming in the pit and a band as dedicated to its fans as its fans are to it: What more could a metalhead want out of an intense live show?

If this round of midterms has burnt out the last functioning portion of your brain, get out to Edgerton tonight and check out Noise Therapy with Seether, Ra and Social Burn. It might just be what the doctor ordered.

Noise Therapy, Seether, Ra and Social Burn play tonight at 7:30 p.m. at Club Raven, 723 Ellendale Rd. in Edgerton, Wis. Call Club Raven for more information: (608) 884-2576.

Advertisements
Leave a Comment
Donate to The Badger Herald

Your donation will support the student journalists of University of Wisconsin-Madison. Your contribution will allow us to purchase equipment and cover our annual website hosting costs.

More to Discover
Donate to The Badger Herald

Comments (0)

All The Badger Herald Picks Reader Picks Sort: Newest

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *