Review
Young And In The Way
Amen / I Am Not What I Am

Young And In The Way is a band from North Carolina with some influence from second wave black metal as well as the steadily growing holy terror movement. This double LP combines their 4th release, I Am Not What I Am with their 3rd release, Amen. While holding up as a satisfactory release for any fan of the genre, neither of these albums has really broken new ground: anyone who’s ever listened to the A389 roster has heard this all before. The music is well-written and pieced together intelligently, but the black metal influence is so subtle that it leaves the listener wanting more. Incorporating a heavier Emperor-styled ambience into the foreground is something I would’ve loved to hear from this band. All critique aside, this is a very enjoyable purchase for any fan of blackened hardcore.

Amen seems to blend together very well, with each song picking up where the previous left off. Catchy rhythm sections on songs like “Dark Seed” and “Eye of Providence” are heavy enough to get a crowd moving while providing the gloomy background noise to dig up a grave too. A few moments in this album you get the feeling that the band is trying a little too hard to be evil and it just doesn’t work out for them. The track “White Light” is a good example of when to turn it down a notch. The standout track for me was the last track, “Becoming.” It has a great melody to it and more passion than they show on any other song. It also shows a lighter side of a fairly bleak sounding band.

“I Am Not What I Am” has a slightly darker tone to it than Amen. The intro itself sets us up with a much better atmosphere of darkness and prepares for the onslaught of despair we are about to experience. The ability to write catchy hardcore continues to be put on display with songs like “And We Have Killed Him,” Death Is Eager To Hold You,” and “The Chaotic And Bloody World Around Us.” These three tracks display pure, driving hardcore with a crusty undertone and demonic riffs layered throughout. “They Should Greet Me With Howls Of Execration” shows a depth to their capabilities and sheds light on some other eclectic influences with a very intrinsically written scheme that provides a wall of sound for the listener to get lost in, all while building up to a huge finale. The organization of this album is great, having put more melodic songs beside the heavier-hitting songs and putting the instrumental interlude, “With Strange Aeons Even Death May Die,” at the perfect time.

Young And In The Way is preaching to the choir in a lot of ways—and who can really blame them? They are giving their fans exactly what they want: it’s safe, but it’s done well and no one is going to complain. I’ll be watching this band to incorporate more of their influences but, no matter what, they’ll be a good band to keep in mind. This is polished hardcore for any fans of Withdrawal, The Banner, and Seraphim.