M
ALBU EW
REVI
Giants
Photos Courtesy of Giants at Large
at Large
By: Kristin Cacchioli
Doubt, the new record by Giants at Large,
brings light to the maturation and strong instrumental talent of the young Long Island band.
Since forming in 2010, Giants at Large has
released two other albums. Doubt, released
on August 7, 2012, stands apart from the rest
and reveals a new direction in which the band
is heading. Themes of time and hope come
alive through vocalist Matt Lagattuta, and replace the simple messages of past albums.
An upbeat sound and catchy tune provide
the album with the positive reaction most will
feel when listening for the first time. While this
pop-punk band sings about the passage of
time and growing up, the instrumentals make
it an exciting listen and you can be sure it will
stick in your head for hours afterward.
The album opens with the track “Timebomb,” which is a perfect reflection of what
is to come. It is a quick song about the passage of time, but reminds the listener that it
is possible to get through the toughest of circumstances. With a slower tempo, this song
could have been lost in the shuffle if not for the
band’s wise choice to place it in the first track.
14
NEWSOUNDMAGAZINE.COM
According to Doubt, time flies. This idea
of growing up too fast seems to be reflected
in the length of the songs—few even reach the
three-minute mark. The lyrics and music convey the singer’s anger with the swift passage
of time. In “135 Syosset,” the song claims
“one day all good things come to an end.”
There is anger in Lagattuta’s voice, exemplifying the fact that he does not accept how
quickly times passes and how everything
must change. The last track, “Let Me Down”
has a similar message. The song embodies
all the themes of the album, reminiscing on
past good times and how everything used to
be. With a slow pace that mirrors the opening track, “Let Me Down” is a reflection on
life.
Addressing that everyone has problems
is an additional goal in Doubt. Toward
the end of “Anti-Hero,” the singer explains,
“We’re so misunderstood/And it hurts more
than it ever should.” Giants at Large do not
dismiss the fact that there are others trying to
find their place in the world and it is a challenging road. Resisting Satan’s temptation to
create problems for oneself is the message in
“Devils.” The strong instrumental usage in
this track, especially the drums played by CJ
Kostaras, is a perfect fit for its theme. “Villain” tells the story of two people who cannot
get past their problems, but it concludes with
the realization that everyone is struggling to
find answers. The loud, aggressive music reflects the frustration that comes with growing
up and growing apart from people around
you. Brian Thomann, band bassist, showcases his skill along with guitarist Anthony Pasini.
The combination of bringing different sounds
together creates a lasting effect.
The personality of the band members
shine through the lyrics and rhythm of the
songs. They have a strong, specific sound
and know how to make their music catchy
with exploding refrains. The emphasis on
music over lyrics in Doubt shows off their
talent with multiple instrumental solos, especially the unique and exclusively instrumental
“Spaghetti.” Giants at Large show promise
and growth with their new album and listeners can be assured there are only better
things to come.
15