Sleeping Giant is one of the most recent signs for Christian hardcore label Facedown records. The band features members of xDeathstarx, as well as Facedown's Impending Doom. With some background knowledge said, you now know that this band is a hybrid of two very different music styles, and with that being said, I will start this review.
Sleeping Giant is one of the most diverse, original heavy music band's I may have ever heard. They bring a blend of EVERY heavy music style I can think of into one of the coolest hardcore records i've heard in a long time.
The record starts out as you may expect. Very in your face vocals, gang vocals, breakdowns etc. nothing too out of the ordinary.
However, from song to song, the record has a different feel to it through that of the song styles.
The most standout track in my opinion is "Whoremonger", what seems to be their take on a melodic hardcore song, that ends up sounding like if Throwdown and P.O.D. decided to join forces, and best of all, this sounds incredible.
The influences of metal are very prevalent as well, with thrashy drums styles, and noodly guitar parts.
It's very hard to pick low points of this record, but lets start off with the obvious. The CD cover of this record is horrific. It's one of the most awful things i've maybe ever seen. It looks like someone learned how to create 3d graphics via somekind of "... For Dummies" book, and thought it would be cool to offer it as a CD cover.
The other downside tho this record that i've noticed, is though each song is different, it seems as if every song has some kind of xDeathstarx b-side part in it, which I guess in a sense is inevitable, but it's just really obvious.
Bottom line.
One of the best, and most original hardcore records we're going to hear this year. It's good plain and simple, and pushes on four wheels. Production is superb for a Facedown record, songs are heartfelt and well put together.
It's just a good listen.
FINAL GRADE: A-
2 comments:
Interestingly enough, I haven't (yet) seen any mention of the secret behind the production behind the bass tone, and the one who gave us the crushing bass tone on the last two songs.
Since the band doesn't have the decency to post this themselves, let me do the honors.
I present to you: Thom Brady. THIS is the man behind the grinding HUGE bass tone.
I recorded this video of him playing Tool's 'The Pot' on my iMac, but there will be much more from where this came from.
My apologies. The album came out today, so Thom and I picked up a copy. Though Thom's not credited on the internet, he is in the liner notes.
Thank you to Sleeping Giant for having the integrity to keep their word and give Thom his correct credits.
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