Reviews
2007-12-16
Fans of heavy, metallic hard core should give these guys a listen; these guys released 2 albums on Facedown Records before signing to independent giants Victory Records. Musically they create what is an aggressive, technically polished combination of melodic metalcore with more basic hard core roots.
With similarities to both Darkest Hour and more traditional hardcore outfits such as Hatebreed, with vocalist Brady Murphy being their strongest connection to the latter. The guy has a powerful, truly aggressive voice that sits in much better with me than most of the current high shrill screamers in most metalcore bands.
These guys start out the album with three crushing core attacks, some melo-death riffing a-la In Flames, while the rhythms are closer to traditional hardcore, with just the right amount of breakdowns intertwined with more sophisticated technical drumming. It's on the fourth track – Purpose In Pain that some variation is thrown into the mix, a bit more melodic with some additional melody in the vocals. It would have sounded out of place, but these guys pull it off.
Wrathbearer has some great riffs, and a staggering display of drumming, but while Murphy's core vocals sound as brutal as always, the melodic ones come off as rather weak in comparison, proving there's a very fine line between melodic vocals that work that ones that weaken a track.
They're back on the saddle with the title track, some fast and furious metalcore that is absolutely flawless, great riffs and a bone-crashing rhythm and excellent mid-section breakdown. This is the way this genre works best.
Fans of more aggressive metalcore and hardcore will probably want to check this one out, fresh and aggressive while retaining its old-school backbone, I found it quite enjoyable.
Alon Miasnikov
