Album Review: Seven Nines and Tens – Over Opiated in a Forest of Whispering Speakers (Willowtip Records)

Musically progressive and sonically expansive, Canada’s Seven Nines and Tens signed to Willowtip Records earlier this year and will release Over Opiated in a Forest of Whispering Speakers on January 7th, 2022.

Seven Nines and Tens’ third album, Over Opiated in a Forest of Whispering Speakers, is the follow-up to their 2012 debut album Habitat 67, sophomore album Set the Controls for the Heart of the Slums, and 2019 career-spanning cassette boxset Satisfy the Faction.

Be prepared to be surprised, Seven Nine and Tens are advancing their sound and pushing the boundaries of what fans might expect from them. Over Opiated in a Forest of Whispering Speakers still features much of what made their name. It’s got post-hardcore and shoegaze elements and it can be progressive and technically heavy as always, but here the band introduce 70’s hard rock, classic rock and jazz sounds.

It’s as disconcerting as it sounds but it also creates a strong sense of excitement and mystery. You literally never know what is going to come next! Which does bring with it some concern as getting into the groove of this album is nearly impossible… at first.

Eventually, the mind adjusts to what Seven Nines and Tens are doing here and instead of feeling wrong-footed, you’ll find yourself enjoying the unbalanced nature. Part of that comes from the obvious fact that Seven Nine and Tens are so talented that every adjustment, switch, tempo shift, musical stylistic change and more, just feels so natural.

What also helps is that this isn’t an epic album when it comes to length. Although it has epic tracks like Let’s Enjoy the Aimless Days While We Can and Sunshine. No, this is a tight and concise listen without a second of wasted time. The flow feels so natural, every moment feels necessary, every confusing twist as necessary as the straight forward rockier and heavier metal focused moments.

As challenging as it is, and it is very challenging, the overall appeal of such weirdness is what makes this a standout release of 2022. Even at this early stage, Seven Nine and Tends have set the bar very high with Over Opiated in a Forest of Whispering Speakers.

Seven Nines and Tens – Over Opiated in a Forest of Whispering Speakers Full Track Listing:

1. Popular Delusions
2. Throwing Rocks at Mediocrity
3. Midnight Marauders
4. Let’s Enjoy the Aimless Days While We Can
5. Edutainment
6. Fight for your Right to Partial Relevance
7. Sunshine

Links

Bandcamp | Website | Facebook | Instagram | Willowtip Records