Damn, here's some brutal metalcore from Albany featuring ex-Lariat members that definitely has a traditional sort of NYHC vibe to it. Think relatively short songs, moderately paced chord progressions, a good dose of heaviness without going over the top (read: this is definitely based in hardcore and doesn't lose its footing), gruff vocal shouts, a little bit of melody, etc. There's really not a great deal of variety, but this is solid material and they don't fuck around. They keep things basic and in your face so you don't really have time to get bored. "Ashes" drops a crushing breakdown, "Tenure" throws in some faster chord progressions and a bit more melody (as well as some samples), and "Never to Play Again" is a bit more rhythmic and memorable in its tempo changes and arrangements. The recording isn't bad. It's a little bit inconsistent to some degree, but it's not too bothersome. I just think something is unbalanced. The bass tone is monolithic, but the guitar distortion isn't quite as smooth as it needs to be, and the drums are slightly rigid, so the higher-end tones of the percussion are more audible than anything. The mix just needs a little bit of tightening up and a few of the instruments need some more warmth, that would do the trick. Visually things are based mainly around text and band photos with a lot of black and brown colors, but it looks pretty good. The only thing I'd change would be some of the fonts used inside booklet, because they're a bit plain and a few too many were chosen. But aside from that it looks cool. The lyrics are quick and to the point, dealing with lots of personal issues and things of that nature. "With hatred brings a bitter pride. Living well is the best revenge. The olive branch has swayed. It falls to the fucking ground. Never go back. Never turn back to the pain of mistakes we've made. Never go back..." This is definitely a solid debut EP. Watch out for these guys. I'm glad to see more 90's styled metalcore bands coming up and bringing the genre back to what it once was.
[Losing Face]
Running time - 17:57, Tracks: 8
[Notable tracks: Ashes, Catholic Holiday, Never to Play Again]
Burning Bridges - http://www.burningbridges518.com
