Review Summary: It is almost as though you know what to expect, but at the same time, it is so surprising.
I discovered Heart on My Sleeve through desperate searches. I am consistently on the prowl for new music that can truly impress me. I have been spoiled by classic bands in the vein of Converge, Saetia, and others. This has heightened my expectations of anything and everything that I listen to.
"Stand By, We're Going In For Life" offers four tracks that all seem to sync together quite well. The vocals are somewhat dark, yet soothing at times. There is a great amount of clean vocals meshed with screaming. The lyrical aspect of the album is heart-wrenching, personal, and simply passionate. The guitar work is superb; crisp and clear quality, though high quality is a bit of a downside in some cases. (As I previously stated, I have been spoiled by ***ty analog quality from way back when.) The band pulls off the songs very well. There are no mistakes; everything is boiled right down to near perfection.
The opening of "Today is the Day" reminds me of something by Pianos Become the Teeth, or perhaps La Dispute. The spoken word section about 1/4 into the song reminds me vividly of La Dispute. I am a sucker for spoken word vocals combined with screaming.
I recommend you to check this number out. They are comparable to many bands on the fray as of 2012, such as Beau Navire, though they do have a very authentic sound. I gave the tracks a couple of runs, and for some, it may be a bit of an acquired taste. Regardless, give it a spin. Perhaps these guys will continue banging out releases in the future. It is a fantastic feeling to find a new group that you truly enjoy.
