Outlie - Companions To Devils And Saints

  by Alex Halls

published: 14 / 8 / 2004

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Review

It wasn’t only Russ Rankin (now Only Crime) who felt life within music had to go on away from Good Riddance. Luke Pabich felt it more strongly than Rankin, realising back in 1996 that his real passion in music lay elsewhere. Eight years on and with Jesse Darling (ex- Lonely Kings) on bass, Sean Sellers (ex- Good Riddance, ex-Downset, Kidney Thieves) on drums and Donovan Cole (The Last Season) on lead guitar, Outlie has finally come together in the form of an album. A formidable offering on paper, Outlie derives its meaning “from a statistical term that refers to information that is outside the norm”, summing up the band’s non-conformist attitude to life and individuality. 'Companions to Devils and Saints' generally offers ordinary punk rock; nothing particularly new and innovative, but the band members’ experience does tell, leaving a well built album that won’t excite the masses but will certainly gain its own following, no doubt exactly what the band would have wished for when setting out on this adventure. There is nothing particularly not to like about 'Companions to Devils and Saints', it just could have done with a little more bite throughout. 'Run With The Wolves' is one of tracks that dord have bite, as the eeriness of the intro after a little spoken word helps create the impression that a story is being told and gives the sensation of hunting like a wolf. Apart from this, you do have to immerse yourself completely within the CD to gain any further insight. Shiva, the Destroyer and also the Regenerator, the third deity of the Trimurti, the Hindu triad of great gods, makean appearance in track two, 'Dance Of Shiva', which encapsulates Pabich’s anxieties, his concern of destructive forces (“I see so clearly that it scares my inner child”) and his reasons for living, through regeneration (“to aspire for something higher”). 'The Price Of Denial' provides another indication of the unease many Americans feel towards President Bush and his stance on Iraq. Able to see past the usual jibes and slander that are often aimed at the aforementioned President, Pabich simply states: “Past wars, that saved democracy, are not the same as those we fight pre-emptively”, in my opinion thoughtfully described at this particular juncture in American politics. The album is melodic with an edge of metal influence; in all, 11 reasonably catchy songs mixed to the highest degree. The mixing does take away the rustic sound that may have suited Outlie’s music, which is a great shame, but in modern times what else can we expect of serious record labels. 'Companions to Devils and Saints' takes time to grow on you but eventually will if the listener has the patience to allow it. Pabich has done extremely well to follow on from Good Riddance without leaning towards his old style. The album, although it won’t blow anyone away, most certainly has a point to make and should, all things considered, make its mark, albeit in a limited fashion.

Track Listing:-

1 Anxieties of the Vain and Unknowing
2 Dance of Shiva
3 Forgotten Man
4 Whipping Boy
5 The Price of Denial
6 Find My Way
7 Shine
8 Run With the Wolves
9 Kill the Messenger
10 Scapegoat
11 Soundproof