Just one word: wadding...
Snapcase are one of those bands who have been slaving away for years, making a fairly big impact on the underground rock scene but without ever really finding any mainstream success. This is well illustrated by the fact that you've probably never heard of them, yet they've sold over 250,000 records worldwide.
'Bright Flashes' is not a new album release, but is instead a collection of exclusive material and rarities, with 6 new tracks that are designed to complete the concept album 'End Transmission'.
Whilst Snapcase are rather good musically, the vocals may take some getting used to, as the muffled high-pitched shouting, which sounds like A's Jason Perry singing with a sock in his mouth, may be too monotonous for some. Vocal quibbles aside, one thing you do have to accredit to Snapcase, is the ability to write some truly classic riffs, as demonstrated by the stonking 'Makeshift Tourniquet', which takes Vex Red's 'Sleep Does Nothing For You' and blends in equal quantities of steroids and gasoline to great effect. One thing that I've always liked about Snapcase is their desire to experiment, an urge which they relieve here with 'Depth of Field', a brooding distortion of industrial electro-synth noise, and although they don't quite pull it off, partial credit is awarded for even trying.
Less successful are the 3 remixes of old songs; 'Ten AM', 'Believe, Revolt' and 'Exile Etiquette', which are subjected to unimaginative electronic work-overs, with adequate but unremarkable results. The record also features enhanced multimedia content, including the video for 'A Synthesis of Classic Forms', as well as 4 covers: 'Freedom of Choice' and 'Gates of Steel' (Devo), 'Mountain Song' (Jane's Addiction) and 'Blacktop' (Helmet), of which only 'Gates of Steel' does the original any justice. Another thing which should probably be mentioned is the terrible artwork, which looks like it's been done by a 5 year old on Microsoft Paint.
If you are new to Snapcase then I wouldn't recommend 'Bright Flashes' as an introduction, because records of this type are really aimed at existing fans - you'd do better to check out one of their earlier releases, the aforementioned 'End Transmission' for example. Even for current Snapcase fans this is less than essential, and should only really appeal to the completists and die-hards.
Bright flash? More of a mild glow.