Battles aren’t exactly Battles without Tyondai Braxton. Even though it was usually garbled or processed, Braxton’s voice appeared enough on the band’s debut that he was their frontman almost by default. The newly-christened trio seem to have taken a more relaxed approach to their songwriting without him, which is both good and bad. Instead of being great on “Ice Cream,” like they consistently were on Mirrored, the guys seem content with being fun. A group this delightfully experimental almost makes more sense without a leader, but Braxton is likely going to be an irreplaceable presence.
The song takes about a minute to get going. Nimble guitars etch out some room for rhythmic grunts and gasps, ultimately morphing into a brightly acidic riff and cavernous drum work. Matias Aguayo’s lithe vocals are passable in lieu of Braxton’s nebulous wailing, but as he bends his voice over typical time signature shifts and minute intricacies, it becomes increasingly clear that Battles are a new band. Some of their defining traits are still here though; they still sound massive, but that may just be the void that Braxton’s absence has created.
Ice Cream (Featuring Matias Aguayo) by BATTLES
