Ok, so everyone says it, but this is my first review... anywho, I just this album but have been listening to a copy for a little bit. On first impression I thought to myself wow, this is awsome drumming with some great riffs and a nice "big" sound. Exactly what I needed for a drive to see Korn, Disturbed and Hatebreed :-) So lets do a blow-by-blow account because thats what I like to read;
1. Meaning In Tragedy (4.5)
This is a great way to start an album. Excellent double kick in well timed intervals. It has a a really good higher riff, which seems to be their trademark, which works in well with the vocals. That said the vocals are well done and suit this song really well. Nice heavy ending to lead into (apparantly) the single with no break in sound.
2. Confined (3)
Not my favourite by any means on the album. Starts off with a really building sound with guitars and drums, then goes into a thrashy style (Angel of Death style). The pre-chorus is actually my favourite moment on the CD, you can just picture the crown moshing like crazy on this part. This leads into the chorus with the first taste of the bassists clean vocals. I am not a fan, it has an emo feel and I didn't feel it fits into the song real well.
3. Losing Sight (3.5)
A slower but chunky and heavy one. The chorus in this one with a real chucka-chunka sound. Goes ok throughout, but have anything to make it stand out, as it keeps on with the same stuff throughout.
4. The Darkest Nights (4)
Starts of with almost a pop-like drum beat and another higher riff. Moves back into a heavier feel to build into the pre-chorus which links well with the chorus. Continues to be that real build up, build up, build up type of song with a real positive vibe to it. The positiveness is polished off with some more clean vocals, this time working a lot better with the intro riff. It builds some more... then moves into the conclusion of the song with the intro/chorus riff fading out. A "I believe I can fly" song for metal heads.
5. Empty Hearts (4)
I like this one but it doesn't start off well after the upbeat finish of track 4, with a real stop-start riff. Gets off this quick into slow headbang material. After an intermission with some lone guitar, it moves into a fast paced riff with some more great drumming kinda similar to track 2's pre-chorus, another album highlight moment for me. This one has a guitar solo which is really good, and fast. The song slows down again, think more moshing.
6. Reflection (4)
Starts off with really noisy guitar riff and then slows to another lone guitar moment. The song settles into a Slayer-esk feel for the verse, but quickly moves into an catchy chorus, which is a transisioned well. Pushes back and forth between the two, to build at the end for finish which moves straight into the clean guitars of track 7. Again, doesn't really stand out, but not a bad song.
7. Repeating Yesterday (3)
A slower one with the clean guitar start. Moves into a screaming (duh, so it the rest of the album) but slow verse. I suppost by screaming, I mean less roaring and more yelling. It almost works but I've heard it done better (Devine Intervention comes to mind quickly). Ends with piono... not bad
8. Through Struggle (4)
A big power chord is the greating from this song, and after the intro moves into a fast pace with the higher sounding riff again. A big double kick chorus is good, then instead of following that up they slow the song back down to lead into a section of clean and yelling vocals. The first time they seem to be singing the same thing, then the second time later on it goes clean with a yelled... almost a response. Works well.
9. The Truth of My Perception (3.5)
This song seems like it was made up of the best bits of some the other songs. It has another stab at my favourite part from track 2, an uplifting chorus, big double kick and fast guitars to follow that. The second solo, this time a bit slower and it ends following the rythem guitar. A big heavy finish, again. Hmmm
10. Control is Dead (4)
A redeeming song from the last one. Starts of heavy and stays that way. It seemed in the last few tracks they were trying to be too dynamic and include a few different styles in every song. This one is big and chunky, with a catchy and headbanging chorus. The vocalist varies his yelling in this one from higher pitch back down again, but not like Danni Filth.
11. Morning Waits (4)
A great start, followed by another lone guitar pause, then into the verse. The chorus is got that "wall of sound" feel to it, and unfortunatly the double kick bass drum has been mixed too loud drowning out the rest of the instuments. This is another build up type song, but not as upbeat as previous ones. This one sort of loses its way with more wall-of-sound stuff and then it slows right down to build up again for the finish which fades out at the peak while the clean vocals are holding a note and ends well.
12. Illusions (2)
Oh my god, a lot of static which gets super annoying. Finally some music, but it is a poor riff, followed by another slow heavy verse. It then moves into an even worse riff than the first. Has another singer, first one I noticed of apparantly several. Lost interest...
Overall this is a good CD. The yelling vocals work a lot better than so many other bands around these days. It is a pretty good effort since the band had apparantly reformed with 3 new members including both guitarists.
Pros: Great drumming, some standout riffs, free flowing feeling to the songs
Cons: Not a lot of variation (too many high sounding riffs)
Hopefully this will give you some idea of what it is like...
