Review Summary: Gideon continue to walk the beaten path. Solid and familiar.
3 of 3 thought this review was well writtenIs family important to you? For some, family is everything. The bond that one might share with their mothers, fathers, brothers, and sisters is so strong that the relationship itself defines the person as a human being. For others, they may hate their family. Their father might beat them, their mother might have abandoned them, and their brother might just be a bully. One thing always remains true though: Family directly affects us as individuals. Good or bad, they shape and mold us into who we are today. It is very clear from
Milestone that family has had a very strong impact on the fellas in Gideon.
From topics that include being a failure as a son, having a mother that gave it all, and a drunk father that beat his family, Daniel McWhorter tells stories of a rough upbringing. The most difficult song to stomach lyrically is “Maternity”, which tells the story of an unsaved mother that he refuses to give up on. Whether or not this was his actual childhood is unclear, but if not, he certainly depicts a convincing story. His solution for this rough world we live in rings true throughout the album. His solution is Jesus Christ.
The music itself is relatively strong. Of course it wouldn’t be metalcore without breakdowns (including some bad ones), but the album itself is pretty consistent. The most talented member is easily Jake Smelley on drums. The guitars sometimes deliver and sometimes disappoint. It is heavy of course, but the delivery of smooth melodic leads is where the album really succeeds. This element is found in songs such as “Gutter” and “Still Alive”. "Maternity" (other than the "Shoulder to Shoulder" lyrics in "Still Alive") is the only song on the album that features clean vocals.
While this album is great and stands up next to their debut,
Costs, I would have liked to have seen a bit more progression from these guys. They have always been branded “The Ghost Inside if they were Christian” and I had really hoped they would break that mold with this release. It seems this year, TGI progressed (or regressed to some) and Gideon did not. This band definitely has the potential to go places; they just need to push their boundaries a little more. They seem constrained by their genre, but hopefully that will change in the future.
I would recommend this album to fans of the melodic metalcore genre, as well as anyone who is a Christian. While I don’t think the lyrics are preachy, they definitely do not mask their purpose. I personally prefer a band that isn’t afraid to speak their minds, and that is exactly what Gideon does here. Don’t be fooled into thinking this will change your life, but it is a passionate, heavy, and fun listen, and I look forward to more releases from this band in the future.
Recommended Tracks: Gutter, No Acceptance, Maternity, Faceless
