Customer Reviews

Begins Here

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The Butterfly Effect are Australia's premier hard rock band, having played over 300 gigs in Australia. They are a true live band, fronted by a master singer. At the moment, "Begins Here" is their only LP, but look out for their self-titled EP.

"Begins Here" suggests they will be around for a while. Why? Their debut album is all class. From the tight, thumping rhythm section of Glenn Esmond (bass) and Ben Hall (drums) to the studious guitar of soloist Kurt Goedhart to the excellent production quality of the album to the shear dedication of the band to create an album that is both thoughtful and powerful.

But, the key is the vocalist. I can't believe the range of Clint Boge. He can sing as sweetly as Maynard James Keenan and as wildly as Mike Patten, without being contrived (like Billy Corgan). This guy's voice is increadible. It really acts as another instrument - which is rare in rock these days. I generally don't buy rock music for the vocals, but in this case I had to. There is no one better that I've heard! This is not a biased Aussie opinion; I generally dislike the Australian rock scene. But when I heard this guy's voice, it just blew me away. If you ever get to see them live, look out for the 1950's-style microphone he uses!

The album begins and ends with linking instrumental tracks that really add to the ambience. There is also another instrumental that splits the remaining ten tracks in two. The first half of the album contains the singles: "One Second of Insanity" - a two minute burst of hungry lyrics over thumping hard rock; "Crave" - the most amazing vocal performance on the album; and the power-ballad, "Beautiful Mine". The second half is just as good, with the standout being the mellow 12th track "A.D".

If you like Tool, Deftones and/or Faith No More, take a chance on this band, you will enjoy their style. They are superb, and deserve to be huge in the future.

The Butterfly Effect is unfortunately one of the best un-recognised bands in Australia today. A lot of us true TBE fans know them affectionately, and can happily sing along to every one of their songs, but if you ask the average person on the street, only 1 in 500 people will say they have heard of them, and sadly less than half of these people could name one of their songs.

Begins Here starts with the adrenaline-pumping song Perception Twin. The first vocals we hear from Clint are "Push me over the edges..." Right from there, we can see that Begins Here will indeed push you over the edges, especially if you loved their previous music. The lyrics "I am your twin" may make some people laugh, but it has deep symbolic value with the whole idea of a Perception Twin. This song is followed by a song by the name of Consequence. The songs title gives away what the song is about: the consequences of your actions. When playing this song live, Clint sings with pure emotion, as it seems that this song is most significant to him from the Begins Here album.

After these 2 songs to get our blood pumping, we're hit with The Butterfly Effect's radio song, One Second of Insanity. This 2:22 song has flipped some Butterfly Effect fans, but has encouraged plenty of new ones. In 2 minutes and 22 seconds, they manage to blow your mind apart and make you think about all of life's traumas. The strongest lyrics of the song in my opinion are "Pressure tested to break, what choice will you make, One Second or Infinity?" This emphasizes how your life can change from one choice which you make in one second, and has a very strong endeavour of truth behind it. After the infamous One Second of Insanity, we're hit with a Butterfly Effect classic, Crave. When you crave a song like Crave, your mind is basically taken to another world as the song is perfectly crafted in all its brilliance. If you're struck for cash but want a sample of The Butterfly Effect, pick up their Crave single with the song "Saved" on track 2. It's a slightly different version of Crave compared to what's on the album, but the average person won't notice the difference.

Beautiful Mine is possibly the choice song amongst members of the official TBE forums. With its malleable start and its superb guitar antics, Beautiful Mine is definitely up there for the best song on the album. After this song, we're hit with an interlude. Interludes aren't common in today's music, but it only goes for 1:24 and sounds spectacular so who's complaining? It soon leads in to one of my favourite songs on the album, Filling Silence. This song redefines emptiness. Without silence there would be no peace, so by filling the silence, we are concluding a war and once again returning to solitude. I'm not talking about a mass war; I'm talking about the ever-lasting war in your mind. The best lyrics in this song to show off its emptiness are "Drifting inside, Closing my eyes, Till the pain died, I've given in to you"

Finally we reach my favourite song on the album. Always still sends shivers down my spine when I put it on, and I must have listened to it at least 100 times by now. If you travel to The Butterfly Effect's official forums, you'll see below every one of my posts the first words of Always, "I can feel you... against my skin, I feel you..." Possibly the most seductive lyrics I've ever heard, luring me in to listening to the song over, and over again. When you reach the age of 9, you realise that songs have meaning. Once you hit 16 you discover that some songs have hidden meanings. The average person could never find a true meaning behind a Butterfly Effect song, and this is pretty evident on Begins Here. Always is evidently about losing somebody that you need. "This sadness forced to feel, like poison I'll never heal" is a fairly solid indication of this.

After this track, the album slows down a great deal. I'm not saying that the last 3 songs on this album aren't as good as the rest of them, but they're definitely more relaxing. Without Wings does get heavy for a little bit, but then returns to its calm state very quickly with some high pitched vocals thanks to Clint, then finalizing with a nice heavy tune again before breaking in to Overwhelmed. Being the shortest song on the album (minus the radio song of course), Overwhelmed will come and go before you realise it. It's only when you put it on repeat that you hear its true beauty. A very classy finish by Kurt running down the strings on his guitar without touching anything with his left hand! Nobody really truly knows what A.D. is all about, except for the band of course. A.D. is more like a bible passage than a song, which is most likely how it got its name. A.D. standing for Anno Domini which in Latin means "In the Year of Our Lord" strikes a different meaning to the song, but this can't be gone into in a review of the album itself. What better way to finish an album called Begins Here with a song called A.D.

As long as TBE don't release a song by the name of "The Anthem" we should be safe to say that The Butterfly Effect will always be a pleasant heavy alternative choice that won't be infested by the teeny pop world that seems to reign over most music today. Begins Here is the beginning of something captivating, and I can't wait for anything else to be released under their name. The only occurrence that could change The Butterfly Effect's path from now is if they split up, but let's never talk of that again.

Can't say too much that hasn't already been said by other reviewers, but I bought this album after reading a good review of it in a local music magazine in Australia and I'm so glad I did.

For a debut album this is amazingly impressive, as the song writing is of very high caliber. It's had to label TBE simply as hard rock or metal, because there's a lot going on on this album, from almost operatic-like vocals to strings and ambience on certain songs. Sure there's the obvious Tool, Deftones and Perfect Circle comparisons, but to say they just sound like a melding of those bands would be far too limiting for them.

If you like modern rock with intelligence, and radio-friendly hooks without comprimising heaviness, then check this album out. You won't be disappointed.

Oh and if you like this album, check out their recently released follow up IMAGO, which from my first impressions is also on par with Begins Here.

I must say, the singer of butterfly effect sounds like no other singer I've ever heard. He's an amazing singer, to compliment an amazing band. These guys kick so much ass it gives me shivers.

Great CD, seriously awesome material.

Okay. Here's my little story of how I stumbled onto this incredible cd. I was walking around a little co-op in Boston Spa (that's a tiny country village in England and no one knows it exists) when I came across a metal magazine called metal hammer. It offered a free cd and since I'm rather skint I decided to buy it. Well it was a great compilation of tracks by bands like 36 crazyfists, in flames, H.I.M etc. Anyway so I'm on the bus enjoying the music when all of a sudden this song comes on that totally stands out from every other track. It was a holy moment, my friend. I was determined to find out who this band was, having found out that this brilliant little ditty was called perception twin. I searched maniacally on the net and found out that the people responsible were a little unknown Australian band called a Butterfly Effect. So I had the name and off I went round every cd shop in Leeds. No dice. `Who', the shop clerk would spout, eyeing the line of impatient costumers behind me. So I looked on amazon.co.uk, nope still no luck (its on now though, sods law). I finally logged on the amazon.com as my last resort and low and behold there it was for 27 dollars (which is lot for me). I didn't even hesitate. When it finally made its way from Australia to America to England I was totally siked. I popped it into my cd player and... loved every track. Normally have certain favourites but I can tell you that I love absolutely every track. No skipping. Someone stated that they weren't impressed with the instrumental tracks (1, 7 & 13). Well if you put the cd on repeat the tracks 13 and 1 meld together, so it's like a never-ending cycle. Anyway I got this cd over a year ago and have nearly worn it to death. I still adore it and I can't say that with many other cds I have bought. This cd is special to me. The lyrics are deep but not ridiculously so, just really good and introspective. Have a look on the net and you'll find them. To me, lyrics are an integral part of my enjoyment and in this case the lyrics definitely do not disappoint. I have heard some comparisons to tool and deftones. Well firstly I think Clint Boge sings much better then Maynard period (I'm going to get it now, he he). They sound much better then tool (don't hurt me tool fans) and deftones (ditto to deftones fans). Okay lets just say that deftones and tool pale in comparison, but hey I might be biased. They sound a bit like a perfect circle (Mer de Noms, not their latest excrement) in the way that they are epic and the masters of mood. Hey my little story seems to have exploded. Lets cut it short here. Buy this cd, marvel at it and spread the word!!!

TBE are a truly original band. They DO NOT sound like Tool as many people have suggested since the release of Begins Here. I hate Tool, to me their sound is toneless and bland and they wander forever in aimless circles. Not so TBE. Every song on the album is different from every other song. Clint Boge has an amazing voice, he puts every other vocalist in the rock world to shame with his ability, and his lyrics are strong and deep. Other than that it really is hard to describe this album. It starts with the deceptively slow-starting Perception Twin, a song that builds nicely, and runs through all kinds of styles, finishing with the whispering A.D (my personal favourite along with Crave). The singles One Second of Insanity, Beautiful Mine and Always showcase a good sample of TBE's styles...One Second is a raw, heavy edged metal song, Beautiful Mine is a supercharged balled, while Always is a nice mix of the two. A great album

I have now seen The Butterfly Effect live 5 times and they have blown me away by getting better and better every time I see them. You will never come out of another bands live performance satisfied after you have seen these guys. Clint's passionate and powerful vocals will send shivers down your spine every time. He is wonderfully gifted in not only his vocals but also in his ability to bring you into his world and feel what he feels.

I usually find myself purchasing an album, listening to the only 3 songs I like off of it and then putting it away to never be seen again. Then Begins Here came along. I have listened to it everyday for the last year and it's the first time I haven't gotten sick of an album. Everytime I listen to it I hear something new that catches my attention and I find myself becoming more and more a fan everyday. Every one of the songs is different in its own way and I love them all!

When they play live they play an extra part in the song Take It Away and I challenge anyone who hasn't seen them before to go even if you don't think you'll be a fan of their music and try not to shiver and stand there amazed as Clint takes you into his world with the words "No more tears for you now...." This is the part of their show that reduces me to tears everytime hearing the passion in his voice. I strongly recommend going to see them if they are in your area!

I love this album and I would happily give it 6 stars out of 5 if that were an option. Do yourself a favour and buy it, you will definitely not be disappointed!

Well, ive been a fan of TBE for a while now, and seen them
4 times around the place. All i can say is these guys are amazing. If your into bands like Deftones and Tool you have to do yourself a favour and buy this album. Great vocals and heavy guitar sounds lead this band. also check these guys out if their doing a local gig. theyve got a reputation for being a kick ass band live. these guys are gona get really big so get into them now! this is only their 1st album and its amazing, especialy for a local Aus band. You wont be disappointed with this album.
Cheers.

The Butterfly Effect TBE as they are effecttionately known are absolutely superb I bought this album on a whim when I heard they are supporting Breed77 on the UK leg of their tour and I was truly converted what a fantastic diverse sounding band you can here every word that's sung and the whole package is incredible if you like Tool, Perfect Circle then you will love this I can't say anymore than that but you must buy this CD you will not be disappointed as they are so talented and up there.

Riku

This CD is brilliant, a must buy for any fan of new age rock and metal. If you like Tool, then you will love this album. Smooth sounds which morph to hard, same with vocals, amazing drumming, juts pure magic. The Butterfly Effect is one aussie band making their way through and showing that there is decent rock all the way out here. A few standout songs on the album are Perception Twin (featuring another hard rockin aussie band, Cog's vocalist Flynn Gower), Consequence, Beautiful Mine, Crave and Filling Silence. This is one cd that you should never get tired, every track worth listening. Australia forever!!