One In The Chamber - To The Gallows (Video Review)
Of course, I’ve already reviewed One In The Chamber’s latest track ‘To The Gallows’, but they just dropped a video last week and it’s entirely too ridiculous that I have yet to review that as well. Sure, on the surface of things, it may seem like nothing but a play-along music video and, to some extent, it is very much that but that doesn’t mean there isn’t something interesting going on there as well.
First and foremost, I did not know that Mike could rip on guitar the way he does in the video and, I’ll be honest, I should have noted that someone other than Cecil was rocking the outro solo on this track because it does not carry the signature dissonant and technical creep that Cecil’s solos seem to have (and does have in the first solo of this very track, however subdued). That’s an awesome thing to see in this play-through video. When I first saw the wardrobe change on Mike, I thought it was unnecessary to change outfits just because he was playing rhythm guitar. Anyone who knows the band knows that he plays…but then he started up the solo and I decided to just shut up and enjoy the show. The fact that there is such a style difference really works for the song. Who knows, maybe it even plays a part in the story, if you wanted to bother reading into it that much.
Whether or not these guys thought this deeply about the construction of the solos around the narrative of the song, the first solo could be taken as unease and a clear unwillingness to continue ‘To The Gallows’, whereas the final solo is far more upbeat and more akin to the party mode of 80s rock and hair metal; as if to suggest that there is acceptance by the end of the piece. I realize I’m likely going overboard here but what’s the point of reviewing something like this if you can’t have a little speculative fun as well?
Since we started with the end of the video, let’s go back to the beginning. Once Mike starts singing, I can’t help but get the creeping vibes of younger Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds. There is something about the lighting, the head tilt, and the hair-raising, sinister manner with which Mike performs that gives me flashes of ‘Loverman’ and ‘Red Right Hand’. Other than seeing the one light fixture, in I think only a single shot, the effect was wonderful. It brought up images of marching ‘To The Gallows’ at sunrise, after leaving one’s cell.
And, while we’re searching for more meaning in this badass video, I’m not sure if it was intentional, but Christian, Gerrod and Cecil are all wearing sunglasses while Mike is not. Could it be symbolic of Mike being the one to see-the-light, so to speak? I imagine it’s just a great way to look killer and not be blinded by the lighting effects but it is interesting enough for me to make note of.
I didn’t expect a Rolling Stones shirt to be flashed so blatantly in an OITC video but Gerrod wears it proud behind his kit, sitting nearly as still as Charlie Watts himself. That may have had more to do with keeping up the cool lighting effect that was flashing out from behind him but, again, is a fun place to find a connection.
While this may have nothing to do with anything in the video, it seemed as though Christian was wearing a keyblade from Kingdom Hearts around his neck, along with his dog tags. Maybe it’s just a key and I’m not able to get a clear enough look at it but that spun me for a second, for sure. And since we’re on about things around one’s neck while going ‘To The Gallows’, I think it’s worthwhile to point out something that I never have in review of OITC to date. I love the detail of the single bullet hanging from Mike’s neck. I just love the detail that this is the one that would go into the chamber. That sort of detail really makes me smile so I’m not sure why it took me so long to make a point of mentioning it.
Either way, I could go on and on here, searching for connections and “finding” deeper meaning but the ultimate point here is that OITC dropped another fucking great song and they dropped another fucking great video to go with it. So check them both out. And if you already have…do it again.
