The Triplet Code – Faceless Travellers

The Triplet Code – Faceless Travellers – Album Review

“To be played at maximum volume.”

If ya wanna know how to make sure to get my attention before I even have an opportunity to play, write something like The Triplet Code have here on the pages with your music.  “Maximum volume” you say?  Sign me UP!  That is of course, as long as you can stand behind all that with verifiable reasons supplied for us to all reach for the volume like we should be…and thankfully, The Triplet Code is ready to do that.  Based out of Amman, Jordan – miles & miles away from where we are over here in the nation’s capital of Canada – this three-piece is clearly looking to rock – so let’s check out what they’ve been up to here.

They’re a bit odd…but I get the feeling that The Triplet Code is more than comfortable with that.  At the end of the day, there’s a skilled band here, with plenty of unique ideas that run throughout their debut album, Faceless Travellers.  With a hybrid blend of sound that merges the realms of Alternative and Progressive vibes – this wild combination of Vivek (Guitar), Abed (Vocals/Bass), and Tayyem (Drums) all clearly have a solid & comprehensive knowledge of all-things-Rock in every form, which you can fully tell from the twists & turns of their Psychedelic sound, to the straight-ahead, amplifiers up, classic approach.

The Triplet Code takes on their title-track “Faceless Travellers” at the very beginning, easing you into the glide & fluidity of the grooves they create as it starts out.  They’ll flex multiple dimensions along the way – ultimately, The Triplet Code makes a case for having just as much in common with Frank Zappa on this first track as they would potentially to the other Rock bands out there, though you can cite moments here & there that might remind you of something else.  With the brilliant way they’ve added in the backing vocals into this song and the personality on display in the guitars…the Zappa comparison becomes the logical choice for the majority of the inventive & innovative structure you’ll hear at work on “Faceless Travellers” – though arguably, I suppose, a bit more aggressive than Frank would tend to be in the vocal department when Abed starts to let the wildness in him out into the microphone.  There’s a bit of a dark & dank rhythm & groove like you’d find in The Doors at times…but overall, the amount of Progressive influence here is much more colorful & lively than anything you’d find from Mr. Mojo Risin.’  Interesting to say the least though – “Faceless Travellers” makes it crystal clear that The Triplet Code are not about to take us down any kind of straight & narrow path – they’ve got a vibrantly expressive style of sound that can explore the depths of serenity, or light it up with rambunctious spirit at any time.  In particular, you’ll hear how Vivek really stands out on this opening cut with his stellar guitar tones and range of skills soaring through your speakers – but all-around, The Triplet Code immediately proves to be a band that’ll make an impression on ya one way or the other.  By the very end of this track, they’ll add in a few bars that’ll have you believing they could storm through a Rage Against The Machine track too – how’s that for immediate versatility?  Look at the names I’ve already listed in comparison – if you’re familiar with’em all and know how many millions of miles apart they are at the core of their sounds – you’ll instantly be able to recognize that The Triplet Code has set out to do things differently.  It’s complex & well-played stuff…just listen to the beat laid down by Tayyem…this music takes serious skill, and he brings the technique you need from the kit with the reliability you want…The Triplet Code might still be very early on into their career, but they prove they’ve got the right pieces to build around.  Is it gonna be for everybody?  Heck no!  But show me some Progressive-style music that is – c’mon y’all.

And of course, that applies to the album at-large, not just its first song – Progressive music has a much more narrow audience out there than most genres, that’s just the reality of the situation – but that’s not to say it doesn’t carry legions of fans that follow the style, and some of the most devoted & loyal ones that you could possibly find at that.  “Searching” brings up the degree of accessibility just enough that they’d be bound to widen the scope of who would listen with this second cut, without compromising the vision of what they want The Triplet Code to sound like either, which is impressive.  I’m not 100% in-love with the tune on the guitars the entire distance through…but I’m not turned off by it either – I had several times where I’d spin through “Searching” and feel like the slightly-off sound that crept up every once in a while actually suited the wilder spirit & murky energy here.  Songwriting, I think they’ve got a great tune without question, and hooks that people will remember; my gut tells me this still probably needs a bit more of a polish to bring it to a level where everyone out there will give it their time of day – but fundamentally at its core, they’ve got a significant beast brewing with single-worthy ideas here.  Let’s not forget – The Triplet Code has technically only been releasing tunes online from about 2020 on forward…there’s bound to be points where we can hear potential evolution & growth that can occur over the years to follow – right now, they’re giving ya some supremely kickass glimpses at what they can become.  I love the way Abed sings this cut – I love the guitar solos – I love the main hooks and the fact that they’re still so memorable, even with as much goin’ on as there is, and a song like “Searching” not being nearly as typical as any kind of verse/chorus/verse cut.  There’s a gripping and adventurous song here in “Searching” – the hooks and vocals lead them to victory here in tandem with their stellar ideas & instincts – I think if they tighten up the tone on the rhythm guitar here a lil’ bit, they’ve got a great song.

A fade IN!  You don’t find too many of those out there I tell ya.  “Close The Gate” has The Triplet Code already in action by the time the volume comes up to its full strength, and they start to rip their way through your speakers with bright sound & vibrant energy.  The groove in the musical hooks are freakin’ spectacular on “Close The Gate” – and between the three of them, they all give you verifiable highlights as to what they’re capable of – absolutely rad drums breaks from Tayyem, charismatic guitars from Vivek, and rumbling bass-lines that keep the rhythm section rock-steady, actually allowing the opportunity for a player like Tayyem to be able to roam more freely and contribute in so many more ways than simply keeping the beat as a result of the reliability that Abed supplies alongside him.  So here’s the thing…there is SO MUCH personality in the music here, that it’s damn near award worthy – the main issue is that I’m not sold on the vocals actually furthering the potential of this track if I’m being real with ya.  You get a lot of artistic license when it comes to the realm of any music that could be labeled as Progressive-anything…we’ll accept quite a bit as listeners…but at the same time, we want to hear that reason for being there – the audible reason as to why each part in a song would exist.  I’m not entirely sure that the vocals weren’t more of an afterthought here on “Close The Gate” – to me, this song is 100% about putting their musical chops on display for all to hear, right in the middle of the spotlight where they belong.  My advice to The Triplet Code would be to examine something like this as objectively as possible…do what suits the song best – and sometimes, that might even mean just rockin’ right out instrumentally – there’s not a person on earth that would be able to resist “Close The Gate” if it was just the music in this instance, but the addition of a bit more scattered vibe from the vocals makes that a more iffy scenario in the court of public opinion.  I get the temptation – they’ve got a singer who can sing, and proved that brilliantly on “Searching” right beforehand – but there’s nothing wrong with a band like this with the skills they have being confident enough in their musicianship & instrumentation to keep the people out there entertained without having to add that one more ingredient where it might not be necessary – because I’ll be real with ya, there’s a solid chance a track like this might very well reach more ears without the vocals.  I’m not sayin’ they’re bad, I’m not even saying they might not work for you – they might – I suppose what I’m saying is, I can’t say for sure one way or the other how people might feel about how Abed sings this one, whereas everything else I hear, I’m 100% sure about.

What an intro!  “The Sleep Cycle” once again proves that it’s the skillful musicianship & innovative ideas that are going to lead this band to victory in the long run.  Love the way that Tayyem leads them into this cut with such brilliance from the throne – he’s such an asset to The Triplet Code and an inventive player – I’ve long maintained that bands with drummers unafraid to do more than just merely keep the beat & pass the time…drummers like Tayyem that’ll get involved on every level and truly contribute to a song’s dynamics structurally & melodically…I mean, you give your band every advantage over the rest in terms of being able to generate consistent interest.  All-in-all, there’s not a thing about “The Sleep Cycle” I’d even remotely think to change – in my opinion, it’s one of the record’s most bulletproof songs from start to finish.  Abed makes a full rebound on the mic and delivers one of his most powerful & versatile performances – and the band is straight up on fire here musically, kicking all the ass outta this jam & then some.  Like…there really aren’t too many times where I listen to a band and think they’d be able of covering something as wild as the Mars Volta – but a track like “The Sleep Cycle” would have anyone out there convinced that The Triplet Code has the chops to pull that off without question.  There’s real effort being put into their musicianship and creating something different than the rest all throughout Faceless Travellers – pass or fail, doesn’t really matter – I respect the work-ethic and the mindset this band has in the way they make their material – and they should be really stoked about how that shines through on this debut.  You can hear the passion, interest, and desire they have to make music – that MATTERS to me – that’s the stuff you can’t teach; the rest is just time, experience, and adjusting dials & knobs back & forth on studio boards.  I listen to a track like “The Sleep Cycle” and believe me – I sleep soundly knowing a band like The Triplet Code will get to exactly where they wanna go with their music, and achieve the success they’re seeking out if they’re willing to put this high level of effort into what they do.  If this is where it all starts, which is great – they’re just gonna get even greater.  Definitely right up there with my favorites on this album – Vivek’s guitar solo on this song is pure genius – and all around, “The Sleep Cycle” is a cleverly focused cut from concept to execution – a real standout.

While I wouldn’t say that “Three Blind Mice” quite has all of the awesomeness on a musical level like “Close The Gate” did earlier – I’m not saying it doesn’t either – personally I really dig this cut, and I was stoked to hear The Triplet Code go the instrumental route to test the waters in that direction like I had mentioned earlier on in this review.  They play with fantastic definition in their sound on “Three Blind Mice” and pretty much dole out an equal share of the spotlight for brilliant individual moments, while also playing on a unified front that has them sounding spectacular along the way.  Like for real – right around the 1:15-ish mark, when that extra layer of guitar comes in, it’s like Vivek has found superhuman powers here…the tone of his guitar sounds like it’s on a mission to raise the stakes of this track up to the next level, and that’s a mission accomplished as far as my ears are concerned.  “Three Blind Mice” is the shortest track on Faceless Travellers by nearly a full minute at less than three total – but this cut serves as an important step in the evolution of this band, and proves they can entertain the masses listening out there just as effectively without having to use a single word.  Don’t underestimate The Triplet Code – they might be fairly new to the scene, but they’ve got the chops and talent it takes to go the distance.

Now…don’t quote me on this, but as far as I can tell, “The Message” would have been the advance single that came out last year in 2020, before the full album Faceless Travellers was released in 2021 – the first impression for many people out there, and introduction to the music of The Triplet Code.  Incorporating more of an eastern-based twinge into their adventurous sound here, like a band like our Canadian brethren in The Tea Party would do, while balancing that out with nearly Offspring-esque hooks in the chorus vocals…clearly there’s a whole palette & range of sound & style to be found on this cut that on paper, damn near wouldn’t make any sense at all – yet when you hear “The Message,” you’ll find an extremely solid representation of what The Triplet Code sounds like and the versatility that they’re all about.  A lead-single can serve so many functions – sometimes it’s as simple as being the first song in a set that’s completed, and sometimes it’s got hooks that just can’t be denied – sometimes it’s neither of those things, and more of an introduction to the entirety of what a band does, which is what “The Message” seems to be most like.  I’d still arguable that there’s probably a more memorable hook on “Searching” – though I’d probably still side with “The Message” as a better song all-around – I might argue that “The Sleep Cycle” is a better song than “The Message,” but “The Message” would still make for a better single to entice the masses on into listening – we all make some kind of trade-off when it comes to how our music gets out there, how it’s received in relation to how it was intended to be, and even then, we’re still at the full mercy of personal taste in the court of public opinion.  Personally I think the extraordinary textures, tones, depth, and the sheer strength of their instrumentation on “The Message” should be more than enough to get everyone onboard with checking out the rest of what The Triplet Code is up to on Faceless Travellers – it’s got so many twists & turns, you could never get bored.

It also has a part two here on this record, right afterwards – nearly equal length, giving ya about nearly ten minutes of “The Message” spread over two separate doses that of course, do two totally separate things for the most part.  The real consistent thread that exists between the two is most often noticed through the instrumentation and the relentless sense of adventure and exploratory sound they rock with.  There are aspects of “The Message II” that seem to somewhat borrow from Tool’s hit “Schism” – but by that same token, in a respectful way that’s not nearly attempting to copy anything, just a similar pattern that is ultimately equally engaging when it comes to skillful musicianship.  It’s crazy…anyone listening to The Triplet Code would know they’re a tight band when it comes to how they play together and the chemistry they share between them – “The Message II” is arguably the band at their loosest on a structural level, yet it synchs up at some many points when it comes to putting accessible moments across too – they’re just more scattered & momentary here on this track than most of the cuts on this album is all.  So you end up with a bit of a mix of push/pull energy on “The Message II” that almost doesn’t seem to exist anywhere else on the record…it’s definitely got its own unique vibe, and certainly flashes moments of brilliance just like all of these tracks have along the way – but in terms of the everyday listener out there & what they can hang with, I have no doubt that “The Message II” pushes long past what most are capable of stickin’ it out for.  For you audiophiles & creative types, I’d imagine you’ll still have no problem hanging around here…there’s still plenty of kickass stuff happenin’ as it plays on, just a much more spread out design overall.  As to how it relates to “The Message” in its original form – I was never completely sure about that – “The Message II” really felt like its own deal entirely.

Some of my favorite drums from Tayyem and guitars by Vivek show up on “Signs” for sure.  Production wise, I can hear there’s still a bit of room to add a bit of sparkle & shine into it all to give it a bit livelier mix – but I still dig it as it stands right now.  Tons of flavor & character in the instrumentation here – and I like how Abed used his vocals both set in the distance, and right up close to us as well, creating a unique diversity on the microphone via technique & production here.  Lyrically, it’s a fairly conscious cut as well, delivering commentary on the direction we seem to be heading in society-wise, and they even dipping a toe or two into the environmental awareness arena for a moment here too.  Essentially, they’re pointing out the “Signs” of trouble we should all be paying attention to, but of course, there’s probably something on television that you’d rather watch instead.  The proverbial ‘you’ – not you amazing people that read our pages and listen to awesome independent music, you guys are obviously super cool and we love ya.  The Triplet Code kinda spells it all out for us here…and while they touch on the “Signs” would should have been aware of, they ultimately provide the conclusion of what’s really gonna happen too…which is that, as a human race, we’re basically already fucked.  Shoot – should I have said *SPOILER ALERT* before that?  I don’t think I’m telling any folks that are truly awake out there anything they haven’t already concluded themselves…and “Signs” certainly reinforces the fact that there are many of us out there well aware of the circumstances we’re living through & what they lead to next.  Vocally, not bad…Abed holds his own pretty strong here through some pretty intense demands on his energy and how quickly he’s gotta move the melody through the microphone – I’d say it’s likely the lyricism that pulled me onboard more-so than anything else in this particular track – it’s grim, but it’s grounded & realistic for sure.  Musically, they’ve always got something rad goin’ on – but even I’d admit that from about 2:40 on forward, they create yet another spectacular highlight in their instrumentation in the finale of “Signs” and find another stellar way to continue to diversify their music perfectly.  Overall, that transition at that point in the song is one of my favorite moments on this whole record really – The Triplet Code sails right into an extraordinary finish on “Signs” that hits the mark, 100%.

Ending Faceless Travellers and their official debut with their longest track “Break The Shells” peaking over seven minutes in length – The Triplet Code goes out with one last journey in sound that’ll take them across the map of their music.  Solid grooves in the bass-lines, large drums, and brilliant guitars – there’s a lot here to be enjoyed and they’ve spread out this experience to really allow us the opportunity to appreciate the instrumentation this band brings to the scene.  My gut tells me they’ve run into a few issues production-wise on this cut that they didn’t on the rest of the record…harnessing those drums proves to be a bit of an elusive task here as The Triplet Code threatens the red-line on the ol’ studio boards – but ideas-wise, once again, I think they’ve got another really strong cut here.  For the longest song on the record, you’d almost assume they’d stuff this one so full of sound based on what we’ve heard & experienced already – and instead, they actually go the opposite route more or less – there’s a ton of space in this song, and for the right reasons…we can really hear how each player makes a massive impact here.  Right around the 5:20 mark, you can hear the production snap in-line for a moment and right at that point, that’s the rich fullness in sound they really wanna have throughout this whole cut, but it’s been hard to keep that in-check this time around.  The clarity does return however once the rumble of the drums is subdued a bit over the song’s latter-half, and by the end, they’re on completely solid ground to finish off their debut record with a fireworks display of stable & steady musicianship & production together, unified.  LOTS of positives in here for a debut record – The Triplet Code ultimately has all the right pieces they need to succeed, and I have no doubt that they’ll continue to surge forward from here in leaps & bounds over the next several albums & releases.  Great start to what they’ve got goin’ on with this debut – I’m probably just as excited as they are to hear where it all goes next – a band like this is capable of extraordinary things and truly blowing our minds one day.

But you know what they say…with great power comes great responsibility.  We’ll see how they use it.

Find out more about The Triplet Code at their official website at:  https://www.thetripletcode.com

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