Lagrange points are places in space where the gravitational pull of two large objects make it easy for a smaller object to reside without much effort. The new Webb telescope will operate from one of those well past the moon. This concept also applies to music. Inthewhale has found a Lagrange point past hardcore and metal, using the gravity of both approaches to create its own sound.

Inthewhale Vanishing Point (Riot Records)

A sound that resides past both of them. And, really, there are plenty of other influences, but Inthewhale is a lot more punk and metal than, say, Earth Crisis (one of the original extreme metalcore bands of the 90s). These songs don't always come together, sometimes with the music disintegrating just as the vocals resolve (or vice versa).

The band has spoken about this aspect of the songwriting for the album. Basically, life sucks right now, and this album is a representation of the lives of the band members. Hell, we can all identify with that, even though few of us could craft music that wedges its way into uncomfortable spaces as deftly as these boys.

I don't know what to call this exactly, and I'm good with that. This is a definite positive evolution for the band, not because these songs sound more "serious" (or whatever), but because they are more visceral and tangibly affecting. Let the throttling begin.

Jon Worley