SWITCHED
1/6/2006
GITM Review
by Theresa Gromek, DomainCleveland.com
Hailing from the breeding ground of Chimaira, Strongsville, Ohio, Switched signed to Immortal/Virgin Records around 2002. They released their first record and soon the band began recording demos for a second, which were never released and seemingly got lost in the shuffle.
The newest release from the Cleveland heavy hitters Ghosts in the Machine is a collection of those demos, along with some b-sides and live tracks. Released by Corporate Punishment Records, this double disc shows what a rock band can do.
The band’s vocalist, Ben Schigel produced the album at Cleveland’s own Spider Studios, where many other Cleveland bands have recorded. The last four songs of the second disc are taken from a live performance in Miami, Florida in 2001. In short, this collection of songs shows where Switched headed for the past few years since their last release, both in the studio and out.
One characteristic about the music is Schigel’s confessional style of lyrics. There is no beating around the bush. Tracks such as “Like Suicide,” and “Who Feels” are about feeling lost and abandoned in the world. Every generation of kids feels similar and the music of that time shifts to suit.
Switched’s style of rock is similar to most of the music that has dominated the air waves for the past five or so. While Switched doesn’t have nearly the staying power of the former metal god’s, this record will most likely have more of an immediate effect. After all, what good is music if the kids don’t like it anymore?
Like most other rock bands, Switched’s sound features melodic vocal patterns mixed with aggressive vocals in the background. Their bass lines chug along at a steam engine’s pace and the guitars either match the chug or squeal high above the rest of the band. The drums blend into the whole mix in a way that they don’t get lost, but do not standing out either.
The struggle of any band along these lines is to find something that sets them apart from the rest of the singles being played on 92.3 Extreme Radio. Schigel’s style of vocals echo slightly back to those of Darryl Palumbo from Glassjaw; melodic with an emotional edge that either sounds morose and hurt or pissed off and enraged.
Tracks such as “Travel On” shift from pounding guitar lines that beat the point to death to a melodic line that tinkers along at a whisper level. “Into Disaster” is very aggressive and faster than most of the previous tracks.
The incorporation of a drum machine into some of the tracks is a unique quality that gives Switched something to set them apart from the legions of new metal bands touring the country. The popularity of this style of music is probably making Lynn Straight spin in his grave because he didn’t live to see the day of Snot exploding.
On the second disc, the track “Skin” has a ambient sound similar to that of Incubus on Make Yourself. Speaking of similarities, “Anymore’s” opening guitar line is almost identical to that of Rage Against the Machine’s “Bulls on Parade.”
Aside from the coincidental similarities, a cover of Thomas Dolby’s “She Blinded Me With Science” puts a sense of humor into the record. The keyboard lines of the song being played instead by a distorted guitar definitely put a modern twist on this 80’s classic.
The last four tracks are taken from a live show and demonstrate the kind of energy that Switched takes to the stage. It is one thing to sound good in a studio with the help of producers and multiple recordings, but to sound good live demonstrates that a band has unfailing ability.
Will Switched be considered among the successful bands from Cleveland in five years? Perhaps. In ten years? Probably not. But that doesn’t determine their success at the present. Playing an established style that dominates the rock air waves now, Switched stand to continue their success and play to large audiences because of their wide appeal. Partly aggressive, sometimes sensitive, Ghosts in the Machine is a showcase of what Switched started as and has become over the past three years.
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