Our Last Night- The Ghosts Among Us

I kind of have some weird prideful issue with listening to bands that are really young, let alone a band with a 14 year old singer, it's just difficult. However, luckily for this band, they have a recipe in which I absolutely salivate over.
I have been a huge fan of melodic hardcore bands for a long time, and while it's easy for someone to categorize this band as a "screamo band" they need to be a bit more open minded about it. Yes, the band screams, yes the band sings, but then again so do bands like Life in Your Way, and numerous other bands that aren't "screamo". Nonetheless, this record hit on all cylinders for me. It's catchy when it needs to be catchy, NOT overly heavy, which is, and should never be the focus for a melodic hardcore band, and it's SO honest. I think the best part of this band is the fact that they're as young as they are, and their pears are trying to rip off bands like the Devil Wears Prada, and Underoath, however, this band takes pages from bands like Strongarm, Life in Your Way, and other great melodic hardcore bands.
This CD should definitely be given a chance if you are fans of the latter bands. Don't write it off right away, give it a few listens.

FINAL GRADE: A

Century- Black Ocean

Former Arms Bend Back guitar player, turned producer Carson Slovak showcases his new band Century. The album plays like an homage to old school metalcore in vein of bands like Deadguy, Cave In, Coalesce, and Seven Angels Seven Plagues, in which it succeeds very well and acts as quite the breathe of fresh air.
Right off the bat the record shines a light on the biggest negative, in which comes as the downfall of this record, the recording. The record is so over saturated with compression, it almost is unbearable to listen to for too long. The bass is extremely over powering, the compression muddies up the guitars and vocals, and it causes the record to run together.One positive to the recording however is that the drums sound great, but that alone obviously can't save it.
The record is heavy as hell and stands as mosh friendly, without being disgustingly moshtastic. Melodies on the record are quite beautiful when you press your ear to the speaker to decipher between what you think is the ringing of you going def, when you realize it's the crunchy computer digitization.
Basically I really don't listening to my records, even one with the potential to be as great as this one, through a cardboard toilet paper tube, it sucks when such good bands have recordings ruin their records.

FINAL GRADE: B-