| The Syncope Threshold Tale of the Complex Circuit |
|
 | Tracklist:
1. Prelude
2. Definitive Behavior
3. Sunflower Avenue
4. I, Harlequin : Exodus
5. The Day I Died (Immunization)
6. Speak Now or Forever Hold Your Peace
7. I, Harlequin : Our Unfolding
8. My Dear Inertia
9. The Conchoid of Truth...In Blood...
10. Alone in the Addict
11. I, Harlequin : Dissolution
Release Date: 05/01/2009 | |
|
On 13 Lists
|
| Summary: The bastard spawn of other bands comes together to prove that metalcore is a genre that is not in decay, but a genre that is very much alive, well, and ready to rip your balls off. |
10 of 12 thought this review was well written
The Syncope Threshold is a band that very few people know of, which is a complete and total travesty. If you can, forget everything you know about metalcore, pop-punk, progressive rock, and hardcore. Now listen up. User Tw1ster made the observation that this band sounds like the bastard child of Protest the Hero, Between the Buried and Me, and Coheed and Cambria, and for the most part, he is correct.
That being said, TST is a musical tour de force. They borrow elements from the above bands, along with the some All Shall Perish style screams, and a poppy singing voice. Using these elements, they have put out a debut album that is surprisingly good. To describe the sound is no easy feat, but to sum it up, take the musical technicality of Protest the Hero, the screaming vocals of Between the Buried and Me, the singing of Coheed and Cambria and Boys Like Girls, and the death growls of All Shall Perish. And on occasion, throw in the guitar wankery of Dragonforce, but imagine it done correctly. All of these elements come together to roughly describe "Tale of the Complex Circuit."
Every single track on this album brings something fresh and inventive to the table, and it never grows boring or stale. There are three prominent examples of this in the first three tracks, no less. You will be waiting in anticipation during the vaguely circus-esque "Introduction" for the real music to begin. Then the shockingly proficient and technical guitar riff that opens up "Definitive Behavior" is attention catching. Finally, as the beautiful singing that precedes the grating screaming on "Sunflower Avenue" bursts forth, its around this point that the realization hits: This is big.
The sheer fact that they have successfully melded the genres pop-punk and metalcore is an achievement in and of itself, but when one considers that this is truly new music, the appeal of this takes on a whole new level. The sound here is unique, and it is impossible to cite another band that sounds like this. The guitars solo in, out, and around the fast drum work, which backs the raw, visceral screaming. Also present are some beautiful singing passages, and this is all underscored by some groovy bass. To say the least, there's a lot going on here, but it comes together very cohesively.
The pair of I, Harlequin tracks, entitled "Exodus" and "Our Unfolding" are quite simply, perfection incarnate when it comes to metalcore. The first part is a hardcore powerhouse fronted by amazing vocal work that focuses on screaming, and the guitar solos are numerous and vaired. The latter part is a slower, albeit still frenetic song that showcases the clean singing. Closer "Alone In the Addict" is another pleaser, with some intriguing musicianship and dueling clean/screamed vocals. It closes out with a guitar flourish that will leave you utterly amazed at the eleven songs you just heard.
As an album that is so haphazard, all over the place, and frenzied, its nothing short of miraculous that the whole thing comes together splendidly. Other bands have attempted to blend genres like this, and most end up embarrassing themselves, a la A Day To Remember's newest album. the Syncope Threshold is new on the music scene, but with some exposure and time, they could be big. I recommend this to anyone who can appreciate good music, really. Try this, you shan't be disappointed.
|
| Recent reviews by this author | | | |
Album Rating: 3.5 | Sound Off
haven't read this yet but will prob neg...no offence...
Digging: Minus The Bear - Planet Of Ice | | |
Very good review, I might check this out.
Digging: Emery - ...In Shallow Seas We Sail
| | |
iv never heard this band
Digging: August Burns Red - Constellations
| | | Album Rating: 4.5 | Sound Off
No one has. They are... There are no words to describe how taken I am with this.
Digging: The Beatles - Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band | | | Album Rating: 4.5 | Sound Off
And willfell, why is that?
| | |
Too many people have heard this, it's no longer cool to like.
Digging: Boredoms - Vision Creation Newsun
| | |
the comparisons stand so far but it seems like a total piss take.
| | | Album Rating: 2.5
@ will: Why the heck do you have a soundoff and rating then?
I've been meaning to review this, and I probably still will. Pop punk and metalcore together brings A Day to Remember to mind, so I don't think it's a very good description. But, part of what makes this so good is how one genre tag doesn't cover things.
Digging: Rx Bandits - Mandala | | | Album Rating: 4.5 | Sound Off
Ok so who negged and why?
| | |
I'm lost. Pop-punk is mentioned a few times during the review, but which of the 4 compared bands listed is a pop-punk band?
Digging: Paloma Faith - Do You Want the Truth or Something Beautiful?
| | | Album Rating: 4.5 | Sound Off
None of them really. They just incorporate melodies and styles of singing that sound like a pop punk band.
| | |
You have soooo many run on sentences. Try breaking up your thought into smaller, easier to read sentences. Each of your paragraphs have 2 sentences, one of which being a long drawn out thought. You may want to try outlining what you want to write before you start. Think up 3 points to defend your rating and make those your body paragraphs. Your writing seems more like a conversation with yourself than a descriptive argument. You don't have to listen to what I say, but that is just how I feel about your writing.
| | |
didn't do it for me upon first listen i aint gonna lie
| | | Album Rating: 4.5 | Sound Off
youre totally right. im going to clean this up a bit. i wrote it in a kind of frenzy.
| | | Album Rating: 3.5 | Sound Off
i negged as a jk lol and b/c a lot o grammar errors...it's more pop-metalcore...i said id neg bc i see no reason this cud get a 5, and ur short-looking paragraphs made me think u wudn't justify the rating...they really aren't doing anything new and are, rather, just capitalizing on putting together what other bands do...
that being said, i really do like this album but it just seems too been there done that...they mimic well but in the end they are still just mimicking much better bands...
| | | Album Rating: 4.5 | Sound Off
I cleaned this up considerably, and whomever negged, i think should read this again. I wrote it in a hurry, and think it reads MUCH better this time around.
| | | Album Rating: 4.5 | Sound Off
Lowered the rating. While great, this really isn't quite a 5.
| | | Album Rating: 4.5 | Sound Off
Vocals really remind me of A Calculated Use of Sound era Rody Walker. Not the best, but still very unique with the type of music being played. Good album
Digging: Mastodon - Crack the Skye | | | Album Rating: 4.5 | Sound Off
Yeah that's what i was thinking. I honestly cant think of another band who sounds similar. Again, i cleaned this up, so the neggers should give it another go.
| | | Album Rating: 4.5 | Sound Off
Neggers... that does not sound... appropriate...
| | | |
|
|
Stumble
Digg
Twitter
Del.icio.us