By: Joseph VanBuren
Rating: 5/11 

Many bands have a trademark songwriting formula, and Brooklyn’s Up Died Sound utilizes one that is immediately identifiable to even the casual listener: intriguing yet simple guitar riffs + lo-fi drums + minimal vocal chants + tons of repetition = Up Died Sound. And though the equation is there, it doesn’t necessarily all add up. Their songs run an average of about five minutes long but usually consist of only two main parts. Even when layers of evolving guitar licks are added, they are subtle and mostly drowned out by the general monotony of the overall track. To be fair, each of the four songs on their Myspace page does have its own personality, from the Arabic vibe of “Intro (Kera Sevda)” to the strangely funky and seemingly NES-inspired “Emotion Sickness.” Perhaps it is the band’s intention to create a mind-numbing experience through music. Such a mood is certainly present, though it is slightly more irritating than interesting. Up Died Sound’s true potential is a hidden treasure, their uncontrollable penchant for repetition being the sand that buries it.