Review Summary: Australia's The Bride release a ripper debut album, mate!
The Bride are a Sydney, Australia based hardcore outfit who have found themselves a niche in the hardcore scene by drawing influences from pop-punk/punk acts as well as technical and aggressive hardcore acts (see Stray From The Path, This or the Apocalypse).
President Rd, their 11 track debut album, clocks in at just over 25 minutes, and is a successful introduction to their don't-stop-don't-slow-down take on the genre.
When I mention the pop-punk influence, I want to clarify that this isn't some A Day to Remember copycat with chugging verses and poppy choruses. The band features only screamed vocals. When I say pop-punk influence, I'm talking just instrumentally. As far as the brand of pop punk The Bride seem to take from, I don't feel too far off citing old Saves the Day or Man Overboard (see the last 43 seconds of Condolences, most of Costigan, most of President Rd or a minute into Like Weezy).
Musicianship wise, The Bride are pretty solid on this album. The drums are extremely tight and flow pretty well. Drummer Anthony Caruso keeps on point and provides some interesting fills. Guitarists Matt Gravolin and Nelson Howarth do seem to wear their influences on their sleeve. Aside from the pop-punk flavored bits which I've mentioned, there are some straight punk flavored riffs on here, most noticeably the first half of the albums closer, You Hung Yourself. I even hear a bit of
The Tide era Oceana in fleeting moments throughout the album, and the first moments of Padme sound just like something off one of the newer Underoath records.
Vocalist Kevin Shultz's midrange shreaks fit the music on
President Rd very well. It's worth noting that he sounds very similar to Brendan Murphy of COUNTERPARTS.
My first few listens had me feeling a bit ripped off; three of the tracks on
President Rd clock in at under two minutes (not including the intro track), and another three are under three minutes in length. But after my initial two listens or so, I realized that despite the short length of the album, The Bride really do manage to pack full songs into these short track lengths. And
President Rd's longest track, War Widow, drags on (save for the beautiful guest vocals Jenna McDougall from Tonight Alive).
The title track of the album is called Athazagoraphobia, which is defined as a fear of being ignored or forgotten. I don't think the members of The Bride have much to worry about, as they have certainly left an impression with
President Rd.
