At various points on Sights Distorted's debut album, vocalist David O'Brien seems to eschew modern life with lyrics along the lines of "The world is just a place to hide" and "This world will never be good enough". Yikes. Last Light would be an entirely depressing affair if not for the musical chinks of light that occasionally flare amid the gloom, such as the atmospheric, nightmarish drip of Slowly and the lighter 1980s dance beats of Stritch. The Drogheda trio are obviously influenced by the industrial rock of Nine Inch Nails and patently in thrall to Trent Reznor's existential lyrics, murmured vocals and general disconcerting ambience. But the influence is implemented far too brazenly. The resulting songs have real potential, but are in desperate need of more time and craft – and less head-bowed mimicry – to truly impress. sightsdistorted.bandcamp.com
Download: Stritch, 5x5