Review Summary: Soldiers releases one of the most brutally honest albums of 2007 (so far) with this debut full length.
The first time I saw Soldiers was at my local rec center. When my friend who had booked the show told me they were playing, I thought they were just another local band. He then told me that Rick Jimenez (guitarist from This is Hell) was doing vocals, I got a little excited cause I had like this back up vocals with This is Hell. They were headlining the show and before they played, I talked to some of the guys and they had told me to definitely stick around for them. I’m glad I did. What I thought was just another local band was one of the most brutal, most angry, most honest hardcore bands I’ve ever heard. I bought their release “The Tombstone EP” and a shirt on the spot. That was it. I was hooked.
I saw them about 5 times after that, then they announced that their were working on a full length. I actually got the album about a week early before the official release date of October 2nd, 2007 because I went to their album release show. Not only was the show insane (bloody nose, cut face, broken glasses) but when I popped the CD entitled “End Of Days” in my CD player, I fell like punching something. Although their musicianship isn’t pushing the envelope or anything phenomenal; it was insanely brutal. I had recently bought Emmure’s “Goodbye To The Gallows” and that was my heaviest album. This was more catchy than Emmure and just as brutal.
The album opens up with
Even Worse and boy is this one hell of an opener. It starts off with crushing guitars and the vocals sound better than ever. They do sound a lot like they did on “The Tombstone EP” which is a good thing, because it shows you that even though they are signed to Trustkill Records, they did not “enhance” his voice too much. This song is so fast paced it is not even funny, and a reason why it’s such a great opener is because it just pumps you up so much. If you put Hawthorne Heights and Soldiers in the same playlist, then you would go from crying over a relationship to just punching anything and every thing. In fact the only thing more brutal than the song is their live show. At 2:19 you hear a breakdown coming, and soon enough you hear vocalist Rick Jimenez famous lyrics “OH!” leading into one of the best breakdowns in the entire album. One of the best openers I have ever heard. There are two remastered songs from “The Tombstone EP” on “End Of Days.” These two tracks are
The Reclamation and
Own Up! The Reclamation was one of the best tracks off of “The Tombstone EP” and is even better on “End Of Days.” It starts off with a guitar riff which has now become famous in the local hardcore scene and at 0:29, the famous Chant for Soldiers comes in with Rick yelling: “Motherf***ing tombstone OH!” and it only gets better from there. At 2:19 the song fades and goes into a sing-along of pure hatred. The lyrics, “You’re always searching for the past. Next time you cross me it will be your last. Thinking of things how they never were, your false sense of brotherhood you want to return.” And the song ends with the same riff as the beginning. One of Sodliers’ most powerful songs.
There is one thing I did not like about “End Of Days” which is the kick drum. If you love metal, or hardcore you know one the most important pieces to the sound of a song is the double bass drum. In this album it sounds almost high pitched giving it less of a heavy sound. Although this sounds small it is very noticeable. Other than that though the guitars, bass, vocals, and drum are all dead on. And while they are not anything progressive they definitely give you a more brutal sound. One of the best examples of this is the song
Choosing Revenge. Everything in this song is dead on. Every musical aspect of hardcore is this song. The fast paced circle pit sound, heavy breakdowns, and a 2-step as well. This song is probably one of the best songs on the album, and is definitely one of the songs that stand out on the record. With a killer opener. You’d expect them to have a kick ass closer as well. Soldiers succeed in giving that to you.
Smoke And Mirrors is probably the best song on the album. It starts off with a yell and fast paced songs. Just like every other song right? Wrong. The song slows down with the line: “This is the end of your reign.” Enter breakdown. Then a huge chant, just yelling over and over again: “This is the end of your reign!” A small drum fill, then a mini guitar solo and the song fades out. However, the album is not over yet. A few minutes of silence, and enter the bonus track. The untitled bonus track begins at 4:20 (suspicious, eh?) What is this bonus track. It’s a hip hop track. Completely different from the rest of the album obviously. Yes it’s a little cheesy but it delivers some of the best lyrics on the album such as: “Can trust a soul, and you ask why I’m so miserable. When I come to you for help it’s like I’m f***ing invisible. Yes it’s an odd way to end the album but still good non the less.
This is Soldiers debut full length album as well as their debut on Trustkill Records. Judging by their fans, their local scene, and the album itself, I think it’s safe to say that even though they are a side project, Soldiers is here to stay.
4 / 5
PROs
Class A brutal, honest music
Great lyrics deliver the emotion
One hell of a debut
CONs
The kick drum sounds a little weird
Could have been a little longer
The hip hop track may come off as a little cheesy
Recommended Tracks:
Even Worse
The Reclamation
Choosing Revenge
Smoke And Mirrors
