Theory of a Deadman Drowns Under Bloated Melodrama

Drowning, not exactly the way I'd want to exit this world. Chocolate sundae or french fries maybe but to be submerged under water, left drifting like so many leaves scattered to the wind, gives me the shivers just thinking about it. You can't fault British Columbia four piece Theory of a Deadman for probing that waywardly watery exit clause. There's much mystery behind the mental state possessing someone to walk into the water and keep going until the undertow has him pulled under. "Drown" makes you sick to your stomach with its imminent vitality drain. The heavy weight's definitely been dropped into the cauldron. Why did the agony have to been stretched out taffy pull style when the material isn't glimpse worthy enough to keep our national short attention span extended a hair. The most unflatteringly attention grabbing part of "Drown" is the chorus. That word sounds whined. You want your listeners to taste the surplus bubbles clogging key arteries but whining's too much of a response indicating the physical specimen hasn't graduated to a flight in corpse class. The lady isn't the only one who doth protest too much. Creep factor reigns supreme. Tyler Connolly doesn't sound quite right in the head. This is the type of song where urgent squealing might have served it better. One compliment I'm willing to pay is for the lyrical juxtaposition of sunny skies over what's soon to be a watery grave. A sunny demise couldn't be terribly uncommon. Most of us associate sunny with a certain level of emotional balance. Yin and yang doing the tango, tan lines waiting to be baked into the naked flesh. Nothing is left to the imagination as Tyler gives us graphic footage of the water's hijacking of his organs. As illustrations go Tyler's a fleet-footed word wizard. Alas, it's the chorus which short-circuits any momemtum the unfolding heartbreaking scene serves up for us. Why couldn't Tyler be somewhat disgusted with his plight and screech like the scorned lover found in numerous other musical gems? My lone guess is that Tyler knew full well he wanted to do himself in and therefore didn't bother playing up the melodramatic and, dare we forget sudden taking of his own life. Tyler, along with rhythm guitarist Dave Brenner widen the cold chasm Tyler, zombie like in his focus, resigns himself to. Scary as it sounds Tyler makes drowning sound like a carefree jaunt to parts unknown. "I'm having fun under the sun wishing you were here" shouldn't fool anyone into thinking Tyler out for a basic breathtaking dip in a captivating lake. The pace is stuck on "lumbering". Depending on your point of view that's either agonizingly apt or simply lazy song script. Garnering sympathy for Tyler's doomed anti-hero isn't so easy. The sphere occupied by the players doesn't spit out a hook, line, and sinker characteristic which would make a casual listener or a Theory of a Deadman diehard (yup, play on words intended) sink much energy into hearing Tyler's abbreviated saga out. Dean Back's bass gets submerged under the piled on pathos. Joey Dandeneau's drums get stripped down to afterthought status. He's there to keep the crank turning, nothing more. "SaVages" will hit shelves, iPods, etc... in the first portion of July. With "Drown" opening up the passion play I fear coming up for air after digesting the entire package won't involve much muscle strain.