Dance Gavin Dance- Downtown Battle Mountain

I myself am kind of weirded out about how many Rise Records releases i've done already this month, and for the most part, none of them have been terrible to the point where it makes me not want to listen to music, but none of them have really stood out to me.
That is until now.
With all the other records i've heard from this label, I was just very skeptical. However, this CD is incredible. Off the bat, I realized it was one of the most original sounding screamoesque records i've heard in a long time. While the band's sound is familiar, it is not watered down, or a rip-off by anymeans. Instead, they perfectly blend various types of music, from metal, to post-emo, to rock, to R&B, and (of course) post-hardcore. Basically this record reminds me of Circa Survive, Vanna, and some Beloved. The guitars are beautiful and ambient, technical and rich. Th vocal melodies are superb and so complex they remind me (seriously) of singers like Usher. Every time I draw that conclusion I laugh at myself, but it really is the truth, it's rare to find vocal progressions like these in modern music anymore, ESPECIALLY in the third leg of post-hardcore.
One thing that hasn't been mentioned are the screams. They are terrorizing, in a goodway, they are everywhere, both scary and obsessive, reminding me of From Autumn to Ashes Too Bad You're Beautiful.
Not a whole lot of set backs, actually none at all, however, I wold have like to seen this band branch out a little bit with their talents and right something with a quicker pace, or even something incredibly ambient, but regardless, this record is phenomenal, and a diamond in an over saturated, carbon copied rough.

FINAL GRADE: A-

Chasing Victory- Fiends

This is the third release (seond full-length) from good friends of mine, Chasing Victory. I've known the guys for maybe 3 years now and i've seen them go through MANY changes. With that said, I can safely say, it didn't surprise me that this CD came out the way it did.
I didn't care for a handful of things on their previous record, including random songs, bad lyrics etc, and i've always been a fan of their debut E.P.
Fiends is probably one of the most original records i've heard in a long time. It's a strange mixture of dance rock, ambient guitars, and signature Chasing Victory screamo. I can honestly give them alot of credit for creating such original songs. Also, the CD is as consistent as a band can get. All the songs have the same tones to them (a darker record), the vocals have the same presence, which is all aiding to the quality of the record.
Lyrically, I think there are high points, but DEFINATE low points lyrically. Some of the lyrics are just way too cheesy, especially for the seriousness of the music.
Also the style change really doesn't do a whole lot of justice to me, though I can thouroughly enjoy the CD, I don't enjoy it the same way i've enjoyed any Chasing Victory prior to this. If Fiends is the "new" Chasing Victory, then the band of old will be laid to rest, much like "old" Underoath is just a different band.
I will stand by this opinion for this record, as I did for the last record. While I don't think that Chasing Victory has reached their full potential as a band, I do think that they have progressed tremendously. While they are probably going to lose some fan-base, I do feel like the direction they are going in, is the direction they want to go in, and will probably reach full potential at.
Like it or not.

FINAL GRADE: B

Despised Icon- Ills of Modern Man

French Canadian Deathcore master minds Despised Icon made quite the splash with their previous effort The Healing Process, now they are releasing their latest full-length The Ills of Modern Man.

From start to finish, this record is non-stop brutal. From defening dual vocals, thick as mud guitars, and intense fast drumming, this record is the definitive of heavy.

I guess we'll start off with that. This record is just brutal as hell, the musicianship is phenomenal, and the vocals are just good. Production is also superb.

The only thing about this record that seems to rub me the wrong way, is that the songs tend to run together, and any signs of progression from previous efforts are minimal. The only change in this band at all, is that they tend to draw from the more hardcore influence on this record.

Bottom line is im generally not a big fan of this style of music. As a friend put it, it seems like genres like this are on their second legs. Meaning that there are bands that are still good, before the third leg comes and just makes watered down carbon copies, much like last years metalcore explosion, and this years post-hardcore explosion. The good news is, after the trends die down, you have bands that come later, to expand on the genre, luckily Despised Icon sits at the helms of the second leg of the deathcore genre, however, I fear the worst as I see the third generation coming upon us.

FINAL GRADE: B

KillWhitneyDead- Ten New Songs

I think it's quite the understatement to say that i've lived under a rock for a long time considering I am just now getting into KillWhitneyDead. Their blend of who-knows-what metal is quite possibly one of the most addictive metal sounds i've heard. KWD is one of those bands that just belongs embedded in the creases of the underground music scene for numerous reasons, mainly because of their extremely offensive lyrics, which don't bother me, but I mean come on, Tipper Gore would turn over in her grave, as soon as she got done killing herself to KWD.
Ten New Songs are ten songs in which the band has put up on their myspace, and pretty much is just showing that the band is still alive.
The album is along the same styles of their previous release as far as style goes, VERY Metal. I think it would be simple for this band to throw technicality out the window, but they don't, they stay true to their talents.
Bottom line is these are possibly KillWhitneyDeads best songs, I think these songs are definitive to the band, and im really excited to picking up whatever record these songs appear on.

FINAL GRADE: B+

It Prevails- S/T

Im not going to lie to you, I don't know much about It Prevails. I do however know that this is their first full-length release off of Rise Records, and I guess first and foremost, is the most honest release i've heard from this label in a long time.
It Prevails blends different styles of melodic hardcore that comes out just right, or at least the way they wanted it to come out im sure.
The album from start to finish is full of stark vocals, heavy riffs, and melodic streams that tend to just float in the background. Sounds of melodic hardcore pioneers Life In Your way are VERY present, but not too over done, as well as neo-Misery Signals-esque vocals saturate this release, maybe a little too much.
There really isn't too much too say about this album outside of the fact that I did enjoy it. The only negative I have for it is that at some points the songs run together just a little bit, but outside/getting around that, this is a good release.

FINAL GRADE: B

Before Their Eyes- S/T

Before Your Eyes consists of former Drama Summer vocalist, and I guess a handfull of other random people. This in all honesty was the only thing that drew me to this record. Not that I ever really cared for The Drama Summer, but I dunno, curiosity I guess.
Their S/T is their debut on Rise Records, once again, home of a bunch of young bands that sound alot alike. Anyways, I guess i'll come out and say it, this band is quite original. They create a blend of pop-punk, rock, and screamo with some pretty heavy licks hear and there. The problem with this is that im not so sure they blend them together all that great, but that's a personal taste issue, im sure kids are gonna eat this up one way or another.
I do think some of the heavy parts of this record are just inda thrown in there, but I am impressed with the way they have written them. They are like rock guitar riffs, distorted and made metal. I dunno it's just weird.
I think the biggest set backs on this record are actually the vocals. There is ALOT of distinct auto-tune on his voice, mainly due to the fact that producer Joey Sturgis (Emarosa, TDWP, Gwen Stacy) doesnt do a good job, nor has he ever done a good job, at masking the auto tune. It sounds as if the singer is using a synthesizer to sing.
Also, some of his melody progressions are just off.
Bottom line, im digging what this band is trying to do, but im not really feeling the music, not awful though.

FINAL GRADE: C+

Sorry for Lack of Updates

No decent releases this month to review...
I might have something for the new Before Their Eyes record...

so yeah i'll keep you posted

The Chariot- The Fiancee

Singer Josh Scogin, formerly of Norma Jean has left one sour taste in all of our mouths ever since leaving the band many years ago. A few years since, Scogin's new band The Chariot releases their debut, one of the worst produced records put out on SolidState in the last 5 years i've ever heard.
Fast forward about a year ago, the band releases their favorite songs from that CD, re-recorded, and gave us something more listenable. The problem with this was that the recordings were much more pinpoint, and crisp sounding. Why is this a problem you ask? By doing so, many critics, and fans understand that The Chariot are simply not that talented.
The Chariot's second full length The Fiancee seems to be a progression in many different reasons. The band features a COMPLETELY different line-up from the first record, and the loss of EVERY musician in the band other than Scogin. However, even though the addition of completely new muscians, the music pretty much is the same.
Forever and all ways The Chariot will leave the same impression to me. The Chariot is The Chariot, and they will always have a potential. Unfortunatly, in my opinion, The Chariot has reached the fullest of their potential with this record.
With that being said, this IS a good record, and is more thought out. I would have liked to see quite a bit more of evolution in the music outside of long drawn out notes that sound like dying animals, strange feedback, and 4/4 timing.
The downside of The Chariot, is that they try to cover up the simplicity of their music, with awkward noise, and a bunch of little simple parts. My suggestion, is to stop thinking this band is technical and listen to bands like Spitfire, and Scarlet.

FINAL GRADE: B

The Chariot- The Fiancee

Singer Josh Scogin, formerly of Norma Jean has left one sour taste in all of our mouths ever since leaving the band many years ago. A few years since, Scogin's new band The Chariot releases their debut, one of the worst produced records put out on SolidState in the last 5 years i've ever heard.
Fast forward about a year ago, the band releases their favorite songs from that CD, re-recorded, and gave us something more listenable. The problem with this was that the recordings were much more pinpoint, and crisp sounding. Why is this a problem you ask? By doing so, many critics, and fans understand that The Chariot are simply not that talented.
The Chariot's second full length The Fiancee seems to be a progression in many different reasons. The band features a COMPLETELY different line-up from the first record, and the loss of EVERY musician in the band other than Scogin. However, even though the addition of completely new muscians, the music pretty much is the same.
Forever and all ways The Chariot will leave the same impression to me. The Chariot is The Chariot, and they will always have a potential. Unfortunatly, in my opinion, The Chariot has reached the fullest of their potential with this record.
With that being said, this IS a good record, and is more thought out. I would have liked to see quite a bit more of evolution in the music outside of long drawn out notes that sound like dying animals, strange feedback, and 4/4 timing.
The downside of The Chariot, is that they try to cover up the simplicity of their music, with awkward noise, and a bunch of little simple parts. My suggestion, is to stop thinking this band is technical and listen to bands like Spitfire, and Scarlet.

FINAL GRADE: B

Emarosa- This is Your Way Out

Emarosa, fmka Corsets are Cages, are the latest band to be signed to quickly rising (no pun intended) Rise Records, home of bands who sound just like Emarosa, and the bands it seems as if they are trying to imitate, The Devil Wears Prada, Drop Dead Gorgeous, and some other carbon copies that probably wont be around in 5 years.

But i'm not here to discuss those bands, but Emarosa's debut record.
I guess the thing that stands out the most is how much this record just sounds WAY too much like Underoath. Whether it's their singing parts that are placed at JUST the right times, their moany drawn out slur chanting that has become SO prevalent in ALL things screamo, or their "noisy" guitar licks they try to incorporate.
I dunno...
I just can't really get over the un-originality on this record.
I think what did it for me, was the track "Breather," an instrumental track that seems as if it were the b-side to one of the 7 minute Underoath songs off of Define the Great Line.
Though from the things i've discussed so far, there are some positives in this record. I think the melodies written by this band are very good, which is something you cannot take away. As a matter of fact, I think this record as a whole is VERY well written, it's just a little too unoriginal.
Another high point is that the vocals, though at some points overbearing, are executed decently.

The bottom line is that this young band just isn't displaying originality YET. I do think there is promise, but it goes with any young band, they just want to copy the people they look up to, and trust me, they aren't the first band to do this. I think in even a year, hopefully this talented group of songwriters will be inspired to create something original and amazing.

FINAL GRADE: C