Carolinian

Issue date: 10/31/06 Section: Arts & Entertainment

Media Credit: PHOTO COURTESY HOLLYWOODRECORDS.GO.COM/SPARTA

Made up of those members of At the Drive-In who did not form The Mars Volta, Sparta is a band known for having a post-hardcore sound. However, their latest release, Threes, represents a somewhat new sound for the band. Though it retains many elements of the post-hardcore style they are popular for, Threes is more mellow and straight rock than previous Sparta releases. Equally reminiscent of the genre previously known as emo that was perfected by bands like Sunny Day Real Estate as it is of Rise Against at their most mellow, with Threes, Sparta has released an album that is likely to be appreciated by more than simply fans of At the Drive-In.

Though songs like "Taking Back Control" have a more typical alt.rock sound, showing that Sparta haven't given up entirely on their roots, much of Threes is more mellow and sedate than one would expect. It is performed well, and there is no moment of absolute discord to be found on the record. However, despite the factors that one would expect would make it a good album, it never transcends the level of filler. Every element, though well put-together and even, in some places, quite beautiful, fails to make it stand out. It is not simply a matter of Threes not having any memorable tracks while still being a memorable album; it is an album one can hear over and over again without ever being able to recall the details.

Threes is Sparta's first release on Hollywood records, and is also the debut of new guitarist Keeley Davis (formerly of Engine Down and Denali). Heavily publicized, it was released on Oct. 24 in tandem with a barrage of extras, including two separate bonus tracks available on-line, a documentary on drummer Tony Hajjar's early life during the Lebanese civil war titled Eme Nakia, and lithographs of the band.

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