Terrorbird

Mirrored, the long awaited third album release from New York quartet Battles has proven to be well worth the wait. A complete eclipse of their earlier work, Mirrored embodies all the prior ideas and qualities that have surrounded the group and extrapolates exponentially upon them. The fractured rhythms, crystalline staccato guitar lines and throttling drums still remain. New textures and horizons become attainable through the addition of vocals courtesy of Tyondai Braxton, though the vocals certainly aren't what one would expect. Creatively applied and manipulated through various forms of technical expertise, the addition of these vocals evoke qualities of a completely new and innovative instrument, with or without the use of lyrics. With Mirrored, Battles have effectively eschewed all conventional formulas and created their own cohesive precedent.

Comprised of former members of Don Caballero, Helmet, Tomahawk, and Lynx, Tyondai Braxton, Ian Williams, John Stanier, and Dave Konopka have long since been touted as an "indie-rock supergroup" of sorts since their inception. Following their signing to Warp Records and release of 2 EPs in 2006, the 11 songs that represent Mirrored prove that Battles have delivered an experimental masterpiece that deserves its own recognition.

past press on Battles:
With a lineup featuring ex-Helmet and Don Caballero members�¢â'¬�¦(Battles) is as noodly and technically dazzling as you'd expect. What'll surprise you are the grooves-simple, funky and Rolex-precise. - ALTERNATIVE PRESS

As trite as a term as "supergroup" has become, it's hard not to use it in reference to a band like Battles�¢â'¬�¦one would be hard pressed to name another group combining such a pedigree with a calculated, yet fearlessly avant-garde, experimental sound. - ANTHEM

Battles does not play songs as much as concoct loops, with three guitars blurting their simple parts into a grand argument. The instrumental band's excursions range from mechanical trance-rock to noise-loop experiments that flow like amniotic fluid in the womb. - XLR8R