Stone Cold "Nothing Lasts" CD
[Gangstyle]
Yet another killer metalcore band comes up from The Netherlands to drop some burly jams that are heavy on the metal without shedding the hardcore influences. Musically this band reminds me a whole lot of Merauder with their midpaced brand of note-based riffing, chugging rhythms, and relatively straightforward song structures, but the vocal shouts are definitely a bit more textured. I like the dual guitar interaction a lot. There are a lot of rhythms where the guitars (which are hard panned) play off of each other to create a fuller, slightly more intricate riff while the basslines pluck away in the center with the percussion. Some of the songs have samples integrated into them, and they actual handle it pretty well. I don't think it's necessary because it usually just adds length to the tracks, but at least they don't just paste samples in for no good reason. My main suggestion for these guys would be to pick up the pace from time to time. The writing is fine, I just think the songs all start to blend together after about 15 minutes because there really aren't that many tempo changes. Were things a tad faster on occasion I think the tracks would be more energetic and the record would flow slightly more efficiently. The recording is pretty strong. The drums are a little bit up front, partly due to their crispness (mainly the snare), but it's not that bothersome. There's a lot of audible detail to the guitars and vocals, so all I'd really do would be warm up the drums a little bit and give the bass more oomph. But that's minor stuff. The layout's not bad. The front cover contains a collage of imagery that's a bit muddy and hard to make out, but it still looks alright, and I like the crisp band logo a lot. Inside are some tiny band photos alongside a very clean lyrical presentation, where most of the content is pretty bitter and mainly explores life's hardships. "They've got you running around deaf, dumb, and blind, So many promises but none are kept, They've got you running around deaf, dumb, and blind, You're a pawn in their sick little game, Searching for something real in a world so fake, It drives a man insane to always lose in the end..." It seems to me that The Netherlands has a really strong metalcore scene these days. I don't know, but throw another name on the list of bands from said country that's worth checking out. (7/10)
Running time - 38:16, Tracks: 9
[Notable tracks: Society's Downfall, In These Times, Obsessive Behaviour]
Gangstyle Records - http://www.gangstylerecords.com

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