The Program "Artificial Unintelligence" CD
[Stillborn]
I didn't know what to expect from this one, but I was a little surprised to be greeted with ultra melodic hardcore that has a really hard-edged sort of pop punk/emo thing going on as far as the vocals (which shift from singing to screaming) and the catchier aspects of the riffing (which never lets up on the melody). They just write solid songs. The tempos are right where they should be and keep the energy level pretty high, the vocals rarely get irritating as far as the whininess factor goes, it doesn't drag on for too long... It's cool because it's not so melodic that it's super sappy and candy coated, but it's also not so heavy that it becomes truly metallic, even though they do flirt with some strong dual guitar runs and dissonant chords on occasion. "Place Blame Here" is probably the most straightforward track as far as combining the fast chord progressions of some of the older Fat Wreck bands with a modern sense of catchiness and vocal harmonies, whereas "Precious" uses more dual guitar harmonies and chunky rhythms. The last track, "AUI", is a lot different than the other songs, as it's a little bit quieter, not to mention longer and with more subdued singing... though ironically the song is terrible and really doesn't fit in with the rest of the record at all. The recording is pretty good, but my only gripe would be that it can get a little messy sometimes. The actual tones are pretty good (the guitars are slightly dirty in the higher tonal range), but the vocals have more clarity and space than anything else, so they feel separated from the instruments, and that's a hindrance. The bass tone is fucking great and I like the fact that the basslines stay out on their own, but the mix needs to benefit the bass a bit more. I'd leave the drums as they are. The layout looks nice and consistent using a strict color scheme of red, green, black, and white, with stylized images of dollar bills and businessmen throughout. Despite the political leanings of the artwork, however, most of the lyrics seem more personal, with a few more clearly hinting at a "message" of sorts. But all of the content is vague enough to leave room for interpretation. "To live or die? Will we survive or just cry? And you push me away, You have nothing to say, It tastes like casual tragedy..." As a whole, sure, this could be more original or just better in general. But I like it. Aside from a few minor glitches it's a strong record that proves the band has something to offer. (6/10)
Running time - 34:34, Tracks: 10
[Notable tracks: Locked and Loaded, Place Blame Here, Crowded Room]
The Program - http://www.theprogrammusic.com

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