Above this Fire
In Perspective
Life Sentence (2005)
Above this Fire is a band that I have known since their very inception, a band that I have been able to watch as they have grown from relative obscurity as local act into one that could easily eclipse their peers with the right promotional push. With In Perspective, this five-piece hardcore/metal hybrid can stand proud and declare that they have finally realized the goal that they set out to achieve over four years ago. I must confess that the album's opener, "Reaction," caught me off guard. The band has given their song-structures a more straight-up hardcore approach as apposed to the technical-metal style they had previously. In addition to the band tweaking their sound, I discovered frontman Andy Hoffman has altered his vocal delivery quite a bit. Where as before he relied heavily on high pitched screaming, that technique, though not completely removed, has taken a backseat to his yelled vocals. While I wasn't expecting this change, I feel this style better suits Hoffman and the new approach Above this Fire has taken to their music. Like the opening track, "The Deceiver Within" follows this new musical formula. The overhauled Above this Fire knit fast-paced straight-forward hardcore and breakdown-savvy … Read more
The Locust
Safety Second, Body Last
Ipecac (2005)
On hearing of The Locust's signing to Ipecac, one might be inclined to call this an unexpected pairing. But if … Read more
Kill Your Idols
From Companionship to Competition
Side One Dummy (2005)
he new Kill Your Idols record, From Companionship to Competition, is the best mediocre record since Shutdown's Against All Odds … Read more
Bloc Party
Silent Alarm
Vice (2005)
Hype generates a high death count, because critics are merciless. Bands with ridiculous amounts of hype seem to have big … Read more
Annihilation Time
II
Six Weeks (2005)
For the past few years these ragers have been taking their brand of Bl'ast-influenced punk all over the world. Their … Read more
