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Written by Marc Farr Tuesday, 24 March 2015 10:45

The album spans 17 tracks, which result in a cacophony of buzzed-sounding noise accompanied by incomprehensible lyrics.

The second album from punk band Roundeye has arrived. Hailing from Shanghai, the band has been labeled experimental freak punk—they got the “experimental” part right. Sadly, by the second listen, it became quite clear that it is an experiment in sound that has failed miserably.

Opening with an ambitious instrumental entitled "PMS 2.5,” the album spans 17 tracks which result in a cacophony of buzzed-sounding noise accompanied by incomprehensible lyrics. While one may be able to appreciate the creative element here, there is simply no pop appeal. Then again, it is a punk album.

Although the disc features special guests including Violent Femmes’ saxophonist Steve Mackey, no amount of musical guests on the roster make Roundeye more than distorted noise. Overproduced and overdone, even the lyrics here are indiscernible. The album slices away at one’s senses—however, not in a fulfilling way. Rather, the album soon becomes raucous and out of tune even within itself.

More for fans of artists similar to Skinny Puppy and the like, even those fans will most likely find this release unlistenable. Overall, Roundeye would do themselves justice if they would find a sound of their own, more than just the sound of the city at night put through an oscillator. D | Marc Farr