And it’s prog! Is that not what you expected? Truthfully, Othervoid carries prog rock that reminds me of stuff that doesn’t necessarily qualify as the most heady music—less 70s Rush and more 90s Rush if you catch my drift. And this makes sense since Transit Method also identifies as punk. Again, not of the hardcore variety—zero ounces of vitriol splattered about the snappy run of Othervoid. This thing’s got more of a pop-punk bounce to it and a vocalist who reminds me of the bright, wailing Perry Farrell of Jane’s Addiction against the straightforward energy of early Therapy?. Except for the eight-minute closer which swings right back to bright vocal harmonies, soaring electric leads, and sparse acoustic backings à la Kansas but in standard rock band line-up. These punchy Texans cover ground.
But for as wide a net as Transit Method casts, Othervoid remains built on simple bones with squeaky flourishes to make the boldest statements. Primary vocalist (and guitarist) Matt LoCoco, despite his cutting croon, doesn’t always push with the most power, so the vocal layers that Transit Method adds to their highest-reaching choruses add just enough to make you want to hum along (“Psychometry,” “The Outside”). And speaking of humming along, so many of the crunchily-captured riffs and thumping, warm basslines ring with the kind of clarity that sticks to the mind, whether you want it to or otherwise. Even when guitar passages feel a little too reminiscent of the solo backings you might hear in a classic Rainbow or Scorpions tune (“Strange Creatures” bridge being the biggest offender), Transit Method finds a way to cut in with a blaring solo or modern throaty shout to cut the olde with a little new.
Othervoid hits fast and with fiery frets—catchy choruses and slippery solos only go so far—but it does little in the way of establishing a voice that sounds like Transit Method. “Into Your Mind” calls us quickly to rock and play, but is it truly in a manner that out-Foo’s the Foo Fighters? “Frostbite” closes the journey with a shifting prog epic, but does it really chart zig-zag guitar patterns and swift mood movements any differently than a modern call of the Mastodon? Love ’em or hate ’em, bands like these stand as pillars in the memory of music listeners. Where Othervoid does succeed, though, is in its ability to maintain an exuberant pulse and steady stream of thoughtful musical moments—the quiet storm solo-drop-out of “Nightmare Machines,” the continuous acceleration that guides the wah-driven melody of “Psychometry,” the quick-step jam of “The Outside.” Transit Method wears their thirty-six minutes like seasoned performers despite treading a familiar path.
No matter the method, music still needs to achieve that amorphous goal of stimulating the heart, the horns, the cheering crowd. Transit Method comes off more to me like the crowd than the stage-smashers. No doubt the radio of olde may have functioned as a decent medium for the light-hearted tunes that Transit Method transmits. In a different life, they may have threatened to become some kid’s Lenny Kravitz. However, in this timeline, their third full-length effort does not make me want to jump on the couch swinging my arms wildly hitting the biggest strings on the biggest guitar known to man. Rock in attitude and warm in execution, Othervoid has solid enough curb appeal, but after all my time with it, I haven’t got a clue why I should care.
Rating: 2.5/5.0
DR: N/A | Format Reviewed: Stream3
Label: Brutal Panda Records | Bandcamp
Websites: transitmethod.net | transitmethod.bandcamp.com | facebook.com/transitmethod
Releases Worldwide: February 2nd, 2024
