Is it necessary to combine musical styles rather than perfect a specific sound? It seems to me that so many groups want to be that next big crossover band, combining metal or hardcore with other genres to bridge gaps and appeal to a broader demographic. But this is rather difficult to pull off effectively, and I've always felt that the best heavy bands were the ones that were just straightforward about it. This brings us to Brooklyn's Goes Cube, a metal-tinged crossover band that layers their sound to be richer and more varied than their contemporary equals.
Another Day Has Passed is the group's first full-length release, having released three EP's over the last few years. It begins with "Bluest Day," introducing us to the down-tuned guitars and technical drums of Goes Cube, heavily echoing At the Gates. The vocal style seems like your typical high-pitched scream, but it gets the job done and compliments the instrumentals quite well. "Grinding the Knife Blade" slows things down a bit and showcases the cleaner singing that permeates this record. At first I was disappointed, or just unpleasantly surprised, but it reminded me a bit of Snapcase as the song went on. One thing I continued to notice is that Goes Cube doesn't care how many styles they pay homage to, a freedom that allows them to be distinctly their own entity.
The vocals tend to bounce between styles depending on the song, a lot of the spacey progressions being similar to post-metal bands like Jesu and Isis. However, Goes Cube keeps things a little tighter, only straying into the realm of drawn-out songs on the eight-minute title-track. Songs like "I Hold Grudges" and "Back to Basics" contain nods to a number of bands from Sick of It All to Ministry. Despite the obvious metal structures built into their sound, Goes Cube interjects moments that embody solid rock and roll foundations. The chord changes and raw energy on "Urbana-Champaign" prove that they have the passion to craft a heavy onslaught with the rest of them.
Goes Cube could have been another failed attempt at post-math-rock, or some equally arbitrary sub-genre classification. But the heart and ability is there, combined with a range of influences that make it more eclectic than you might expect. I've heard that the live show is what really makes this band, and I can imagine that this sound would transfer wonderfully to a large set-up at a small venue. I personally prefer a more direct approach to heavy music, but this is a successful crossover effort that may start turning even more heads in the future.
