This band features in its ranks Carl Skildum (Threadbare, Krakatoa, etc.) and Dave Walker (Harvest, Krakatoa, etc.), among others, and plays energetic, melodic hardcore with a heavy sort of edge that barely jumps into any metal territory in my opinion. Musically it's a little more straightforward than some of the members' past efforts, based largely around traditional heavy hardcore with scathing vocal shouts and the occasional gang backups, but Skildum's not a straightforward guitar player, so he definitely lends a lot of creativity to the writing that keeps it from being the least bit stagnant or generic. There are lots of interesting picking patterns (often fairly rhythmically involved) and discordant note choices blended with octave chords and simple melodic rhythms, so it's definitely got that flare I've come to expect. The third track is unlisted (Untitled?) and largely instrumental, using whispered vocals and significantly slower tempos to create a darker atmosphere. Towards the end of "What Went Wrong" there's an awesome little metal riff where the bass and guitar mirror each other and it's just fucking slick... I'm definitely into the writing here. The recording is really good for a demo. It's a little bit raw, but the mix is solid and it's got enough punch to get by for sure. The vocals rest deep in with the music, the bass is audible, the drums are natural, and the guitars are heavy. I'd like to hear a little bit more bass clarity, which might require a slight bit of cleaning up on the guitar tone, but that would help to fill in the tiny gap between the drums and everything else, and then it'd sound right on the money. The mastering could also be a bit louder, but that's a minor issue as at least everything sounds consistent throughout. The CD-R comes in a slim jewel case with a simple insert on cream-colored paper with the logo printed on the front in orange and the lyrics printed in black on the back. The lyrics are personal and deal with topics that are vague enough to be appreciated by all: "The air is that of fear, fear of knowing yourself, Another time, another will, another step towards a wall, Expect the best from the worst, this was meant to be, I'm inside out, I'm stopped dead, No matter how hard we try, it was never enough, Chances are we'd all die alone, if it was left up to us, This promise left to chance, this chance left to fate, Alone I stand and wait, I'm stopped dead." This is an awesome demo. I damn sure hope these guys get signed soon, if they haven't already. Check this out...
[self-released]
Running time - 10:31, Tracks: 4
[Notable tracks: all four are fucking great]
The Good Fight - http://www.thegoodfighthc.com
