Bear Vs Shark
Terrorhawk

Marc Paffi does not have a good voice. Whether singing or screaming, Paffi forms his words in such a way that makes me think of two words: speech impediment. Not that Paffi is actually among the lispers and stutterers of the world. It’s just that his attempt to pull off an accent, something that works for Green Day’s Billy Joe, comes off as a more accidental than intentional. “Baraga Embankment,” the first of three emo-tinged ballads, showcases exactly how bad his voice is. The off-tune piano, coupled with the lyrics about cats being cooked on frying pans, begs for the suitor of a melodic voice, but the only voice that’s ringing is one that unexpectedly reaches high and lows at very inappropriate times. It’s like a blind date gone horribly, horribly wrong.

As a result, the next song “Entrance to the Elected” sounds like a sweet haven of post-hardcore beats. Crammed with muted chords and subtle, grabbing hooks, Paffi’s voice is once again brought to the attention, but this time it’s much more confident and, more than that, it’s backed by bandmate John Gaviglio. The backing vocals buffers Paffi’s otherwise harsh voice, creating a harmony I did not believe could exist until I heard it coming from my speakers.
“Seven Stop Hold Restart,” the highlight of the album, readily builds on this track with sharp chords and the reemergence of Paffi’s newfound confidence. His voice is stronger, steadier, and much more assured, declaring “Oh well, these are the pants that fit me,” seeming to have found the niche in Bear Vs Shark’s sound where his voice would be most efficient. “What a Horrible Night for a Curse” and “I F****d Your Dad” are other strong tracks. Being the other slower songs on the albums, these two tracks completely erase all the damage done by the faulty “Baraga Embankment.” “Horrible Night” features the band’s use of heavy, but not too heavy, distortion that fits Paffi and Gaviglio’s dual voices.

Marc Paffi does not have a good voice. In the course of Terrorhawk, he exposes the very weaknesses of his voice only to completely redeem himself in later tracks by taming his singing and utilizing his voice as an instrument working fluidly with that of Bear Vs Shark’s pounding drums, muted chords, and piercing hooks. Paffi’s found pants that fit and he’ll be damned if anyone stops him from showing them off. – Natalie Tsu