2 out of 5

Label: Jade Tree

Produced by: Kurt Ballou

I realize I’m going to hardcore music hell for this, given that the majority of this group would go on to be Young Widows, whom I adore, but the version of the group that was Breather Resist – which included vocalist Steve Sindoni – just doesn’t do anything for me.  And interestingly, I can lump some of this on the production, by the normally sharp-eared Ballou, whose “raw” sound for Charmer unfortunately lets the group’s most pummeling elements – guitars and drums – completely overpower any short silences, and Sindoni’s vocals are mixed right at the same level, resulting in an album that just doesn’t know how to breathe.  Taken in moments, Charmer is pretty effective, hence opener ‘An Insomniac’s Complexion’s speed-riffing to breakdown to speed-riffing setup packing a pretty great opening punch, but when the next few tracks start to repeat a similar formula – a drumbeat, now break into noise – it loses effect.  This is especially because the group rarely leaves the mid-range in tones, and hates to wait too long to get back to shouting and playing and – though this may seem counter-intuitive after saying they use a formula – because the group never rests on a riff.  As soon as they build something they go in another direction, only rarely finding a theme or groove for any particular song before sprinting forward.  This is all a shame because the technical chops are definitely there, and Sindoni’s lyrics are interesting; it’s just too much of a same-soundy mish-mash.  The band / Ballou figure out a proper push / pull dynamic on some tracks – Keep ‘Em In Stitches, Loose Lipped Error – but these moments are too few on the disc (and buried too deep) to really make an impact.

Throughout, you’ll hear bits and pieces that remind you of other groups, like Cavity, or Cable, and you’ll be prepared to suddenly adjust to Breather Resist’s barrage and “get” the album.  But it never gets there.  The band is too enthused and creative for its own good.  Interestingly, when they did transition to Young Widows, their first, punkier album – sharing the most in common with earlier projects – is the least distinctive.  It took the members years of figuring out how to chill out a bit and let the noise build and rest to drop some brilliant albums.