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Review Summary: The Paramore Syndrome: Amazing vocalist in a decent band There are, and always have been amazing vocalists in the world of music. Sometimes these vocalists are stuck in a band that is sub-par to what they are capable of and what a quality band could achieve with such a vocalist. Welcome to the case of Brittany Ritchey and ForeverAtLast. Hailing from the musical haven of Indianapolis, Indiana (Haste the Day, and others) ForeverAtLast is a metal band that is still on the boarder of making it big or dropping off the musical map.
I first heard of this band when I was going through the list of bands that were going to be playing at Cornerstone Fest 2009. After sifting through tons of bands that were playing on the small stages, some decent, some awful, I came across ForeverAtLast. As the File_Save As started playing on their myspace, I was slightly unimpressed as it started off with one of metal's most cliche things, a breakdown. After the vox had kicked in, I was still not impressed, but I did became curious as they sounded a bit funny. I started checking out their page and realized the vocalist was a girl. While normally this wouldn't be a huge deal, it was in this case. I had not heard growls and screams like that from a chick vocalist in my listening experience. Putting even the great Angela Gassow to shame, Brittany Ritchey is the force that drives this band. As I listened more and more I realized this band had a great deal of potential.
Fast forwarding to Cornerstone Festival, I watched ForeverAtLast put on a great show, even though they were missing their lead guitarist. I quickly purchased their 7-song cd and proceeded to take a listen. This band plays the typical metalcore style, but with emphasis on atmosphere and ambience. Songs like Back to the Fire Again and I Tried to Add You on Myspace... showcase the band's knack for catchy riffs, and also puts Brittany's vocals on full display. With adequate, but not great drumming, and catchy but not amazingly technical guitar, the band manages to put a nice collection of songs together. Keyboards are also present, but the production is not as tight as one would hope, so the keyboards tend to get buried deep in the mix. Clean vocals by both the lead vocalist and the guitarist, along with some Mastadon like yelling from the bassist add a sense of vocal variety, whether that be good or bad. Songs like These Heavenly Lights and Mooi Lied show the band can slow things down and write some melodic music if they choose. Although this may sound good and all, there are a few things that hamper Welcome to Lost Cause...from being rated higher.
For having a vocalist as good as Brittany Ritchey, the band does not utilize her to her full potential on this album. Too many instances of clean vocals by the guitarist, and the awful yells by the bassist take the power away from what is the band's best asset and selling point. Brittany's clean vocals also are a sort of weak point. It seems like she tries to sing too low from her natural pitch, which sounds fine but she sounds alot better when singing at her natural higher pitch, like on the beginning of These Heavenly Lights. Musically the band also needs to develop a more original sound, although getting better production could help this. Also, The vocals tend to overshadow the instrumental side of this album, which may be a concern to some.
With all that being said, the band has great potential. If they utilize their amazing lead vocalist and develop a bit more of their own style, they could be a force in the metal realm for years to come. I would highly recommend this to listeners who enjoy female vocalists, or those that just want to hear something that is different vocally from the normal metalcore scene.
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Not my best review...and good luck finding this so if you want it...add me on aim: espunderoathdood
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aim is for the weak, msn is where it is at ;)
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well I don't use either but this cd is pretty much impossible to find ....but I doubt any of the sputnik elitists will think its good haha
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well what do you use then anyway?
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nothing really, I kinda just use facebook and sputnik ..
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too bad. Would've added you ;)
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haha oh darn....you should check out this band
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nice review, has some awkward sentences though. You want me to list some of those?
Also, i'll give their myspace a go tomorrow (too busy now) but I ain't hoping for much as I dislike female growls a lot
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sure...any critiquing of this would be great ....well if you dislike female screamers then I wouldn't give this a go because thats really all that saves it
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Oooh, female vocals in a metalcore band. I'm torn.
haha @ just using Facebook
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psssh well nobody i know uses aim or msn ....
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That's true, but FBchat is still kind of garbage.
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Sometimes in the world of music, there is amazing vocalists. bad and awkward start, try this: There are, and always have been amazing vocalists in the world of music.I first heard of this band as I was going through the list of bands that were going to be playing at Cornerstone Fest 2009. replace as with when.As the vocals began I was still not real interested, but then I wondered why the vocals sounded sort of funny. again, a bit awkward, try this:After the vox had kicked in, I was still not impressed, but I did became curious as they sounded a bit funny.Fast forwarding to Cornerstone Festival, I watched ForeverAtLast put on a great show, even although they were missing their lead guitarist. even though, not "even although"Songs like Back to the Fire Again and I Tried to Add You on Myspace... showcase the band's knack for catchy riffs, and also puts Brittany's growls, and singing on full display put Brittany's vocals on full displayKeyboards are also present, but the production is not as tight as one would hope, so the keyboards tend to get pushed to the back of the mix. I would put it like this:Keyboards are also present, but the poor production leaves them a bit buried inside the mixThe music tends to drift toward the background with the vocals being the only thing keeping the listener interested. awkward sentence, could do something like this: The vocals tend to overshadow the instrumental side of this album, which may be a concern to some.
now I know what you are thinking, you are probably like "Damn he really ripped my review apart", but that is not the case. I know i quoted (and repaired) a lot of the sentences, but essentially these are just minor mistakes. The content was good. Experience comes with writing so yeah, keep writing and soon, you will not have even those little mistakes anymore.
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oh its downright terrible...and you should check this out just for the vocals ....they lost their drummer and bassist so heres hope that they pick up some talented people
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thanks metalstyles ...il fix it up
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no problem man. I have learned from the best editor around, Willie.
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The name Brittany Ritchey just doesnt sound intimdating and Angela Gossow im 180% sure would decimate this chick without even blinking. Gay thing to say tbh, and false at that. Good review otherwise. Will myspace.
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metalstyles: Yeah haha ....I guess I should proofread more. I usually write these up in about 20 minutes because I get the random
urge to write.
Balls: I guess i might have went out on a limb a little with that statement...but if it gets people to check them out....
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An overtly christian band filled with pasty white fat people isnt a good sign, but listening too nonetheless.
Have you heard Mortal Treason? They broke up but you should check their last album.
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i'll pos now. I will still myspace them tomorrow, but yeah, not really hoping for much.
Also, haha, i take the longest time with my reviews. I never write a review under an hour. The Skindred review I wrote today i did like 2+ hours for sure (possibly cuz i accidentally deleted it in the process lol)
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