Nothing more than a brief and typical interruption

With a name inspired by the tragically compassionate Platoon sergeant, Elias is a Vancouver-based band with delusions of grandeur and suffering. Consisting of Brian Healy, Ron Tornroos, and Stefan Tavares, Elias's sophomore release, Lasting Distraction, doesn't quite evoke the principles of Sergeant Elias, the power of his death scene, or the potency of Platoon. This album is neither original, nor does it provoke strong emotion. From lyrics about the woes of high school outcasts, to the obligatory plunking of simple piano chords, Elias has moved away from hard-hitting rock to soft-moaning emo. Fortunately, this “distraction” wraps up in less than an hour. This is that brand of music everyone has already heard – and too many times. To cut the boys some slack, the title track has a catchy beat and will certainly be a teenage chart-pleaser. “Bad Ideas” is also a decent track — Healy’s vocals carry the emotion of this song with a polished and varied cadence. For the most part, he has a strong and ambitious voice that is well-suited to the genre, albeit a little whiny for critical consumption. Tornroos and Tavares play with high energy, and are able to create a refined quality to the instrumental accompaniment. Elias is a youthful and conventional band held back by their juvenile and predictable limitations. This band has potential for musical growth, but for now, the only connection they have to Platoon’s Elias might just be an untimely end.