THE CALLOUS DAOBOYS - CELEBRITY THERAPIST
Following their 2019 debut Die on Mars, mathcore/metalcore group The Callous Daoboys have created a masterpiece of an album, proving that uncontrolled chaos can always be transformed into art.
Even though the now seven-piece band have been heralded as the next big thing in mathcore since the Dillinger Escape Plan, the honourable comparisons really don’t do Celebrity Therapist justice. While it is made quite clear that the band proudly state their influences, what they have created exists in a plane of its own. This is an eight-track album filled with genre-switching moments that constantly aims to side-track their listeners, pulling it off quite masterfully in the process.
That is made quite clear from the opening track even, with ‘Violent Astrology’ taking 30 seconds to welcome the listener with a mixture of normal and abstract sounds, before dropping them into absolute chaos, respectful nods towards their inspirations, witty writing, and surreal interludes, all of which fascinatingly blend together to create something truly unique and memorable.
The next two tracks are fast gut punches that keep the random tempo going, as lead single ‘A Brief Article Regarding Time Loops’, and ‘Beautiful Dude Missile’ creatively play with experimentation, wither it be through a sci-fi spoken word interlude, or randomly placed melodic guitar riffs that amplify the heaviness that follows.
Vocally, Carson Pace’s impressive versatility not only shine on this album but solidifies him as one of the best vocalists in the scene at the minute. Whether it be through brutal gutturals, or melodic verses, the constant changes allow the vocal creativity to bounce around the genre spectrum with complete ease. This is most visible during ‘Title Track’, a track filled with beautiful vocal melodies and acoustic guitar situated in the midpoint of the insanity that consists of Celebrity Therapist. That being said ‘Title Track’ still features sudden changes, suited to the band’s identity, reminding the audience of the mayhem that hides behind the otherwise peaceful nature of the track.
The second half of the album doesn’t ease the listener in any way, continuing with a fascinating mix of distorted guitars featuring hints of jazz and Latin pop, primarily located in ‘Field Sobriety Practice’, ‘The Elephant Man in the Room’, and ‘What Is Delicious? Who Swarms’. The band continuously pushes the bar even further for how crazy the project can get, constantly keeping the listener on the edge of their seat in speculation of what to expect each passing second.
The album perfectly closes with ‘Star Baby’, a track that fully encompasses everything that was previously mentioned in a phenomenal way, whether it be through the groovy baseline, hard hitting guitars, catchy chorus and vocals, and a very pleasant surprise during the last minutes of the track which is worth not spoiling. The end of ‘Star Baby’ signifies an impeccable end to a flawless album.
The Callous Daoboys have created an immense body of work, with constant surprises, sound switches and enough chaos to fully keep an audience hooked for the whole 37-minute duration of the project. If I could give Celebrity Therapist a six out of five, I would. However due to the statistic and logistical issues behind album scoring methods, the album will have to settle with a 5/5. A heavy contender for album of the year, and a must listen.
Daniel Tsourekas
★★★★★