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by: rob tatum “Tired.” “Too much like the last album.” “Just okay.” Those are just a handful of things I have said to describe this album. That is never a good thing. As much as I loved Bury Your Dead’s Cover Your Tracks, their latest release, Beauty and the Breakdown, is a pretty big disappointment. I spent an extra week on this review, just to give the album a chance to show me something that I missed when I first listened to it and unfortunately for Bury Your Dead, I’m still waiting… Don’t get me wrong, it’s not that the band did anything bad on Beauty and the Breakdown, it’s just that there is nothing new to offer when compared to the last album. I think it’s good for bands to pick up where they left off and then let it carry them forward with their next release. This album is like treading water. It sounds like a B side to Cover Your Tracks. There is nothing to distinguish this album from the band’s previous two albums. Alright, enough with the negatives… This is still a Bury Your Dead album. It’s hard-hitting and full of energy. You still can put this into the “moshcore” stack of your collection and listen to it whenever you need to let out some aggression (ala Throwdown). Mat Bruso’s vocals are still some of the strongest in hardcore music and the musicianship is still just as in your face as before. The breakdowns are still powerful and the lyrics are perfect for screaming along. If I had never heard Cover Your Tracks, I would consider this an amazing album. Too bad that isn’t the case though. This is still better than a good chunk of hardcore music being released, but I don’t think the band spent enough time trying to enhance their songwriting ability and thus released, in my eyes, a sub par album for the group. Writing music doesn’t have to be about reinventing yourself with every release, but when progression is sacrificed, it’s never a good thing. |
Saturday, August 5, 2006
Review: Bury Your Dead - Beauty and the Breakdown
Thursday, August 3, 2006
Review: All That Remains - The Fall of Ideals
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All That Remains had every opportunity to “sell out” and tone down this record. They were getting recognition on MTV and received great reviews from their performances on last year’s Sound of the Underground. As a fan of the band, I’m glad to say that The Fall of Ideals picks up where their previous release, This Darkened Heart, leaves off and carries the band forward. Musically, the band did not reinvent the wheel for this album, but there is not repetition in their songs or structures. The guitar work and drumming are very strong and make each song just as powerful as the next. I especially like the fact that the 80’s metal riffs are not overdone and are a tasteful addition to the breakdowns and speed metal riffs. The band’s ability to write melody into such heavy music certainly has propelled them to the top of this genre. Anyone who listens to All That Remains has to notice the driving force behind the band. Vocalist Phil Labonte has one of the most diverse and talented voices in heavy music today. His ability to change from guttural death metal vocals to powerful screams to melodic harmonies is unmatched. The pure strength in his voice carries this band. The only complaint I have is that his lyrical style still needs some refining. This album does a better job of incorporating more specific lyrics, but largely, the songs are generic. Nitpicking aside, this is a great album. It won’t redefine any genres or get a Grammy nod, but this is what metal and metalcore should be. Heavy, energetic, and powerful. The Fall of Ideals is a good listen no matter what your mood may be. I love when good bands actually meet your expectations with a record. This definitely met mine… and then some. |
