Between The Buried And Me
There is so much that could, and should, be said about Between The Buried And Me, their lifespan, their discography, their style, their influence, etc; but for the constraints of time and appeal, will be unfortunately left out here. The Great Misdirect is aptly named for so many reasons, of which only one will only be pointed out here. When an album is labeled “Album of the Year”, it’s usually under the premise that from start to finish it will literally blow you away. The Great Misdirect falls short of that aspect; and in a sense, for that very reason it makes this album, quite easily, THE album of the year.
From the start, classic BTBAM comes about, yet it’s the subtlety and intrigue that starts to pull you in. Known for their chaotic time and genre changes, the band keeps this principle, but there seems to be more latent overlays intertwined into the songs during the heavier sections. ‘Obfuscation’ brings about some of the most incredible harmonic architecture. The vocal layers initiate depth and exposure to a sort of dissonant beauty.
The reciprocity of the ups and downs balances this album wonderfully. ‘Disease, Injury, Madness’ introduce the vocal melodic layering that exemplifies the bands complex simplicity; it’s oxymoronic framework that portrays a stunning equilibrium. Afterward, perhaps the most musically diverse segment from this album is displayed in the “Fossil Genera” track. It would be awkward to ignore the similarities to appropriately distinct, The Dillinger Escape Plan, especially regarding the timing structure, and guitar work. Here, some of the best dynamic progression is displayed in the album.
“Desert of Song” presents a minor chord growth that is a significant new element; and while it is slightly obscure, it is masterly at alluring one in and influencing them to sing along with the melody, regardless of whether the actual lyrics are known. The finale track’s initiating has immeasurable contrast, as the track builds it channels a sort of Refused vocal attitude, implementing a refreshing material that is wholly engaging.
Between The Buried And Me has completed yet another masterpiece. From guitar work, vocals, drumming patterns, production mastery, etc; regardless of the segment analyzed in this gem, it excels to an exceeding level. Anyone remotely interested in musical ingenuity and/or discordant quality will instantly find this an epic, true to any definition. The Great Misdirect is by far a top contender for album of the year, if not the only competitor on its level.
Review By ReviewRinseRepeat
Artist: Between The Buried And Me
Album: The Great Misdirect
Genre: Metal / Progressive / Hardcore
MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/betweentheburiedandme
Track Listing:
1. Mirrors
2. Obfuscation
3. Disease, Injury, Madness
4. Fossil Genera – A Feed From Cloud Mountain
5. Desert Of Song
6. Swim To The Moon
Sounds Like: The Dillinger Escape Plan, Prayer For Cleansing, Oh Sleeper
Read MoreTry Album [Mediafire] Between The Buried And Me – The Great Misdirect
Four Letter Lie
Four Letter Lie seems to never take a break. This five piece from MN has developed hectic tour habits and effort release schedules since forming back in 2005. Both their debut album “Let Your Body Take Over” and 2008’s “What a Terrible Thing to Say” sold fairly well, despite suffering from mixed reviews. Over the last year though, FLL has gone through major band/sound changes — one such case being the exodus of their guitarist and drummer, Kevin Skaff and Derek Smith. The average band would have just folded right then and there, but knowing their love for music (plus the several records they probably owe Victory Records per their contract), Four Letter Lie solidified a new line up and finished their junior album “A New Day.”
A very fitting title, seeing that the status quo from the night before (ie. previous record) has changed drastically. Gone are Kevin’s back up vocals, leaving only Brian Nagan’s throat-heavy, raspy shouts for about 95% of the album (”My Surrender” features a bar or two of guest Jesse Barrera’s vocals). The subtraction of the balanced vocal duality, creates friction for the ears. Listeners can however still find smooth grooves in the fretwork. Which, believe me, is there. Also, John’s relocation from bass to guitar hasn’t phased Four Letter Lie’s melodic guitars for one second. He instead involves a more thick sound that is prominent in bass technique for his new role, which leans more towards hard rock and less towards post-hardcore. I personally miss the abundant, carefree guitars of “What a Terrible Thing to Say,” but this solid yet simple approach seems to work for the band as it inhabits most of the albums tracks.
The other parts of “A New Day” follow their old post-hardcore ways, with harmonized riffs and throaty (Atreyu-like) shouts. One such track, “The Spell” feels like home for those that enjoyed their first full length — while the very next song “Strugglers” sounds like a dredging mess, complete with little more than 4 chords used during the whole song. It almost sounds like a down trodden Papa Roach. Normally bands start hitting a softer stride once they have moved on from a harder genre before it. Just look at Atreyu — the difference between Suicide Notes.. to The Curse to Lead Sails.. is almost uncanny. Four Letter Lie has seemingly followed the same route, opting for a more hard rockish sound. Of course, remnants of their post-hardcore days are littered all over “A New Day,” but they are watered down and ragged. Plus the one-sided vocals keep the album off-balance and scratchy.
“A New Day” is clearly a new path for the band, both musically and in identity. It’s true that change must occur for an artist to survive, but sometimes those changes can leave a sour taste in your mouth. The lack of clean vocal presence and the veering away from the fantastic (yet crowded) post-hardcore scene, in favor of a simplistic general rock one, leads Four Letter Lie sounding like a completely different act all together. One that can stand on its own — but will it be too much of a change for some? Most likely.
Artist: Four Letter Lie
Album: A New Day
Genre: Rock / Alternative / Hardcore
MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/fourletterlie
- Tracklist -
1. Daymaker
2. We’re All Sinners
3. Careless Lover
4. It’s Finally Over
5. My Surrender…
6. The Spell
7. Strugglers
8. Key To The World
9. I’m Done Trying…
10. Young Hearts
11. Faces In Places
Try Album [Megaupload] | Four Letter Lie – A New Day
Try Album [Mediafire] | | Four Letter Lie – A New Day
Set Your Goals
Named after CIV’s debut record, this San Francisco outfit formed in 2004 and now release their second album. They are on an extensive tour of North America until mid-November, followed by a short break and then European dates.
Two styles are very evident across ‘This Will Be The Death Of Us’, which begins with the thrash-metal title track of the same name. Reminiscent of The Offspring’s early work, it is breathless but doesn’t take your breath away and is listenable without being seducing. Along with ‘Like You To Me’ and ‘The Fallen.’ it is likely to create some energy in the mosh pit though.
The band’s other audio taste owes to the likes of Blink 182, punk-rock frat anthems such as the bouncy ‘Look Closer’ which will delight teens, but are hardly innovating. Again these tracks will get a live audience sweaty, and on ‘The few That Remain’ the band does at least convey an admirable swagger which is given a touch of glamour by the appearance of Paramore’s Hayley Williams.
It has to be noted that the record does get somewhat monotonous toward the last few numbers, while the acoustic instrumental that is ‘Arrival Notes’ has got to be one of the most ill-fitting minutes of music ever placed on an album. Still, it won’t stop the band finding their fanbase, but it’s also safe to predict they won’t become global superstars.
Review By Alex Lai
Artist: Set Your Goal
Album: This Will Be The Death Of Us [2009]
Genre: Rock / Punk / Hardcore
MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/setyourgoals
-Track List-
1. this will be the death of us 3:09
2. with hoffman lenses we will see the truth 0:43
3. look closer 3:50
4. summer jam 3:05
5. like you to me 4:26
6. the fallen… 3:24
7. the few that remain 3:21
8. equals 3:23
9. gaia bleeds (make way for man) 2:52
10. flawed methods of persecution & punishment 4:09
11. arrival notes 1:08
12. our ethos: a legacy to pass on 4:34
Read MoreTry Album [Megaupload] | Set Your Goals – This Will Be The Death Of Us
Arsonists Get All The Girls
Arsonists Get All the Girls started in 2005 as a joke and wanted to be the heavier version of Horse the Band. Horse the Band almost invented the genre Nintendocore with a hilarious keyboard and synthesizer sound in their metalcore. Besides a lot of humor they can also write catchy tunes and that’s exactly what Arsonists Get All the Girls lacks in most of the songs on ‘Portals’.
Yes, these fire-raisers can handle their instruments and come up with hot guitar riffs and funny keyboard parts. Still the breakdowns, moshparts or keyboard tunes are just cut and paste work. When this album continues you getting bored by the simple keyboard lines and also the melodic guitar riffs, especially in the 7 minute song “Portals” that’s just way too long. If you want to imitate Between the Buried and Me you should also have their song writing qualities.
No, Arsonists Get All the Girls from America is just one of the bands that jumps on the buzz Horse the Band created and although this album is already their third I can’t hear they have a sound of their own. The un-funny synthesizer sounds in for example “I Lost My Loss of Ruin” and “To Playact in Static” get on my nerves, just like the standard breakdowns do.
Review By Maurice
Artist: Arsonists Get All The Girls
Album: Portals [2009]
Genre: Hardcore / Death Metal / Experimental
MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/agatg
-Track List-
01.Interdimensionary 01:24
02.The 42nd Ego 03:30
03.My Cup’s Half Empty 03:01
04.Skiff for the Suits 03:39
05.In the Empyreans 04:03
06.Saturnine 03:22
07.Violence in Fluid: Triceratops 04:01
08.Portals 07:26
09.I Lost My Loss of Ruin 02:58
10.To Playact in Static 04:50
11.Tea Time Tibbons 14:44
Read MoreTry Album [Mediafire] | Arsonists Get All The Girls – Portals
He Is Legend
An odd five years ago, He Is Legend made their full-album debut with I Am Hollywood; an over-compressed post-hardcore phenomenon that simply oozed creativity. They, strangely, followed that up with a post-southern-hardcore-hillbilly-whatever release which is christened as, depending on who ask, either ‘Suck Out the Poison’ or just plain ‘Suck’. In perhaps the most successful attempt to alienate their fans, ‘Suck Out the Poison’ divided music-listeners in half and left them rather confused. So, why would it be a surprise that He Is Legend would make another oddball turn into the unknown with their next album? He Is Legend’s sound has been in a constant state of overhaul – reinventing and recreating their niches and nuances in the blink of an eye; rediscovering their roots and revamping their songwriting – basically any word with the prefix “re-” can be accredited to He Is Legend’s journey as musicians. However, in all the band’s efforts to remain both a) true to themselves and b) culturally relevant, the band may have fallen just below the bar with their latest release ‘It Hates You’, they may have lost that special “spark.”
However, that is not to say that ‘It Hates You’ is a weak release in the slightest — no, ‘It Hates You’ is surely a solid record. The explosive opening number ‘Dicephalous’ is an immediate He Is Legend classic, instantly giving initial insight into He Is Legend’s latest sound: extremely catchy and genuinely unique rock with just a sprinkle of progressive tendencies thrown into the mix for good measure. With unpredictable time changes and perhaps He Is Legend’s catchiest chorus yet (‘You’ve got everybody else fooled/But we know who you are/You’ve got everybody else outraged!‘), ‘Dicephalous’ is certainly a good indicator of what’s to come on ‘It Hates You’. Yes, if you don’t like what you’re hearing at this point, then it’s time to abandon ship. The subsequent ‘Party Time!!!’ and ‘Everyone I Know Has Fangs’ are upbeat thrill-seeking songs that both come off as overtly quirky and, particularly with the latter song, devishly clever. The climactic and epic ‘Stranger Danger’ can be paired with ‘Decisions Decisions Decisions’ and ‘Don’t Touch That Dial’ as the album’s near-stoner-metal compositions, as each song broods forebodingly and fluidly before exploding into their respective climaxes.
Sadly, with the exception of the aforementioned songs (and the brilliant ‘The Primarily Blues’), many songs find He Is Legend sinking to an all-time low. While previous releases had perhaps one, maybe two filler tracks, It Hates You finds itself churning out lifeless and potentially obnoxious songs per capita far more than it’s predecessors. The oddly overdubbed ‘Future’s Bright, Man’ heralds an awkward, extended intro, while ‘Cult of She’ is brimming with irritating vocal melodies. Whereas on other tracks vocalist Schuylar Croom has an ear for dissonantly beautiful harmonies and catchy hooks, he unfortunately just caterwauls like a feral streetcat without any diction or control on ‘Cult of She’. Counterattacking Croom’s usually acceptable performance (bid farewell to sing-scream songwriting) is the rest of the band’s equally benign performance. With the exception of bassist Matt Williams, who is likely one of the most creative bassists in music today, drummer Steven Bache is rarely creative enough to steal the spotlight (although he makes ample use of a tambourine) and lone guitarist Adam Tanbouz fails to make up for the loss of guitarist McKenzie Bell (even with studio overdubbing).
The unfortunate fact is this: with each and every album, He Is Legend finds themselves shaving off a few layers of brilliance. While ‘It Hates You’ still contains some of He Is Legend’s best material yet (certainly the catchiest), it still can’t quite match up to it’s predecessors. If ‘I Am Hollywood’ was like eating delectable gourmet pizza at an Italian restaurant and if ‘Suck Out the Poison’ was like ordering acceptable delivery pizza to your door, ‘It Hates You’ is akin to microwaving a tasteless, potentially-plastic Safeway-brand frozen pizza for you to eat off your lap while you gorge on late-night infomercials and reruns of Grey’s Anatomy. While this bachelor-esque scenario isn’t the worst thing ever (pizza is still involved), most sane people would rather be in the gourmet restaurant, listening to He Is Legend at their prime. Ultimately, beyond the sonic decay and song-long musical missteps, ‘It Hates You’ is still a capable release — but how much longer will He Is Legend descend the proverbial staircase into mediocrity?
Review by Caleb McAlpine
Artist: He Is Legend
Album: It Hates You [2009]
Genre: Rock / Hardcore / Sex
MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/heislegend
-Track List-
01.Dicephalous 04:04
02.Party Time!!! 04:13
03.Everyone I Know Has Fangs 03:26
04.The Primarily Blues 03:52
05.Cult of She 03:27
06.Stranger Danger 07:32
07.Dont Touch that Dial 04:14
08.Decisions, Decisions, Decisions 04:51
09.Futures Bright Man 03:46
10.China White III 05:31
11.Thats Nasty 05:35
12.Mean Shadows 06:50
Read More
A Day To Remember
A Day To Remember
Fun. I think with all the atrocities and seriousness in the music industry these days with band feuds and band civil wars there aren’t many bands around that seem like they are in it for the fun. This is the first release/band in awhile that I’ve come to terms with that I feel like the band is having fun with what they do and these guys in this band feel like they grew up as a kid who loved music just like any of us. I could throw out formulas and genre bull*** that probably the first thing that comes to anyone’s mind but who invented the rules anyway? A Day To Remember is a band much like Set Your Goals which has the furious, fast, fun, influences of modern day pop-punk and combines it with crushing breakdowns and hardcore pace screaming/chanting. For all of the music elitists out there, this is simply a nightmare. It’s just a known thing that a lot of people who like pop-punk and alternative rock isn’t so much for screaming, hardcore vocals (even though times have changed) and it’s most definite then most of the hardcore and metal core kids cant stand the “whining” in pop-punk. It’s a genre clash, and it’s an interesting mix for a band to bring to the table. Another band that’s hitting it off big is doing the same thing and a lot of people are in love with them, they are known as Set Your Goals. Already though if you’re a huge Set Your Goals fan you won’t need to read any longer because this will be your nirvana. For those who are non-believers or just those who are ignorant to the differences in genres, open up your ears to probably the music industries next big cash in.
For Those Who Have Heart
If you’re a fan of Set Your Goals the first song “Fast Forward to 2012” is basically going to be right up your alley. The song begins at a blazing hardcore saddle up pace with melodic vocals that tell of the story of how this band started from rags and are now on there next (2nd) album and are showing why there here to stay. Chants and screams come into the song after the chorus and really the first thing you’ll notice is the diversity in vocals. This isn’t some bulimic emo kid trying to scream with his whiny nerdy vocals. It simply sounds like two different people doing the vocals where he can actually sing on a pop-punk level and scream with a heavy, throaty, brash. “Speak Of The Devil” starts up with hardcore style of guitar and the whole song feels like it’s rising upwards to a final climax. The song construction here comes with screamed out verses and a melodic singing chorus. What’s good about this song construction is the fact that the chorus is where the hook will catch you by the ear for it’s catchiness and sing-a-along styling. Very early into this album you can feel the vibe of the fun, fast pace, and chug like breaks.
“The Danger In Starting A Fire” starts off feeling like an armor for sleep song in every element… leaving most people with a big WTF? When the song develops into itself the verses funnel out into a more post-hardcore vibe with guitars doing the whole chug and pinched harmonic thing. Staying true to the hardcore feel and not being some washed up breakdown band comes a lot of chants where I deem its appropriate in the music. The chants are something that freshen up the song since they come at climatic points of the music and usually will make you chant along with it. The breakdown in this song particularly stands out at the end of the 2 minute mark for death metal like vocals that feel like more growls then anything and a metal core chug and shriek style of palm muted open dropped down chords and then high strung upper neck variation. I know I’m a sucker for that but for a band that was just singing with melody and catchiness to end a song like that… Wow? “The Plot To Bomb The Panhandle” is the single off of “For Those Who Have Heart”. The song is definitely listener friendly and is based off of a lot of hook but I wouldn’t expect less from Victory Records. The song uses just a lot of octave chords and palm muted power chords which feels so generic compared to these previous songs but the chorus is indeed what a single should be… catchy and sing-able. The song definitely feels like it’d appeal a lot more to the pop-punk community since it’s basically an all out pop-punk song that has it’s moments of wanting to be “tough”. It’s probably a song that you’ll be bound to hear since it’s a single but I wouldn’t recommend it.
“Monument” washes out any bad taste that the previous song lasted in your ears depending on who you are. The song continues on a pop-punk vibe and reminds me of Saosin a lot. If anything you’d have to appreciate the melodic vocals for not being nasally and whiney, but more high strung and catchy. The thing here is that the pop-punk vocals use a lot of licks in the hardcore style of lyrics which feel very uplifting, motivating, and unified. I like that a lot. A song like this and the single though are almost throughout sung melodically and that won’t appeal to a lot of the hardcore elites. My favorite part of this song though is the build up at the end where is takes one last hardcore swing at the listener. The chanted vocals of “This is my time to shine” just feels so motivating and uplifting to me and leaves me with anticipation for the rest of the album and reminds me of old school Comeback Kid.
Unfournately, “The Price We Pay” is probably one of the biggest let downs to a previous song I ever felt. The song has a dead slow pace to it’s originally high octane hardcore styling. It’s acoustic and the vocals didn’t really please me as much as they could of. This is one of the worst song placements I could of ever imagined since it kills almost all of the momentum this album was snowballing before. To be honest I could of done just without this song since it feels like a filler more than anything and also because…
…“Colder Than My Heart, If You Can Imagine” brings everything back to full speed ahead. More recently I’ve been listening to LoveHateHero and this song definitely has the vibe that band did in “White Lies”. The vocals in this song really feel like they peak on a melodic level where Jeremy reaches higher notes then ever before and overall it feels nice and fresh on the ears. Guitar like here feels like the standard of most post-hardcore bands and nothing really too flashy. The drummer on the other hand feels like he takes an active role in being the back bone of this band and just like many other hardcore bands. “Show ‘Em The Hopes” is a Set Your Goals vibe indefinitely. The song starts off at that blazing hardcore pace with chants and never really lets go if only to smash you in the side of the head with its breakdown. I’m 90% certain that if you’re a Set Your Goals fan this is a good example of the songs that will please you off this album. This song particularly feels like the guitar players finally woke up and started veering off without the rest of the band going in it’s own direction. Little hooks and more advanced riffing with pinched harmonics are finally delightful but where have they been for the other songs? “A Shot In The Dark” is where the band is really putting there foot down. It feels like they are going to continue going in the right direction now and not look back. This song is more metal core like than anything with its style of vocaling and chugging of guitars. It doesn’t stay that way but it engulfs the listener with a once again catchy chorus that’s sung. The guitar playing in this album woke up in the 2nd half. Maybe it’s me being a sucker for Metalcore but even the pinched harmonics sound a lot better then most bands recorded versions. “A Shot In The Dark” would definitely be one of the highlights of this album for me and a song to recommend to the common person.
“Here’s To The Past” starts out with it’s title chanted and continues the album in a great direction. The drumming in the verse is something that feels very nice, that you’d hear from a band like Set It Straight or even Modern Life Is War. It’s obvious that this band has a lot of ranged influences and if you can’t sense that by now you need to quit music. The catchiness is just overflowing out of this song. “I Heard It’s The Softest Thing Ever” has an introduction that builds up over 15 seconds. After that it releases a fury attack of double bass and palm muted guitars with deep throat vocals. The song keeps that fury attack in the verses and has an all out singing chorus. By now you should either love this or hate this… “Start The Shooting” is a finale that can’t be missed. The song is a little bit of everything all of the previous songs were (thank god no acoustic). It’s a great way to leave the listener with it’s Saosin like chorus and its throaty screaming in between here and there.
The Danger In Starting a Fire
A Day To Remember is a band that’s going to get the same criticism that Set Your Goals has in mixing two genres that don’t particularly have people who like each others music. A lot of bands split up because the members in the band couldn’t agree on a sound but in this band the band members don’t agree on a sound but instead gives the listener a diversified effort of pop-punk, alternative, and hardcore genres. For people who aren’t music elitists who rep there one genre of ignorance hard, this is definitely not the band for you. You’ll be able to find the style you don’t like and complain but that’s the problem if a band goes out on a limb like this. It’s hard to find people who like both genres but I feel like A Day To Remember did a good enough job on a whole band effort that even if you don’t like one or another of the genres, it still might win you over. The only thing to fear now… is this the new sound these labels are going to cash in on?
Review By SputnikMusic.Com
Artist: A Day To Remember
Album: Discography
Genre: Pop Punk / Hardcore
MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/adaytoremember
-Album List-
Read More