Review Summary: From Youtube to Sumerian Records
If you ask me what the greatest innovation of recent history is, I'll go ahead and say the internet, hands down. Everything you want to know about anything is at your fingertips. You can stalk your ex-girlfriend through social networking websites, see if that irritation in your pants is something you should get checked out, or even look up something to prove your annoying friend wrong! The internet is quite something, and we all take it for granted. Denis Shaforostov knew that (possibly?), and through the power of Youtube promoted himself through vocal and guitar covers, and soon enough started posting Youtube videos of his own metalcore band "Make Me Famous." His band then got signed by Sumerian Records, released a single, released their first record titled "It's Now or Never," and they all lived happily ever after.
It's quite the story, really. It also helps that this album isn't actually terrible, unlike most recent metalcore releases. Sure, it's not perfect, and there are some cliches I'd rather not hear (cheesy electronic parts), but they do a good enough job at keeping everything fresh and listenable throughout the album. That being said, this is a 15 track album with each song lasting almost 4 minutes, and sitting through the whole thing without your neck snapping off from all the headbanging may turn off some that want just a quick listen. The terrible and laughable track names may also make some question the integrity of this album.
The album opens with "Blind Date 101," which is easily the worst song to open the album with as it is the most predictable and straightforward song on the album. It would be suitable as filler halfway through the album, but tossing it at the front of the album was a lackadaisical idea as the track is missing the grabbing power openers should have. It's one of the few plagues on this album, aside from the unnecessary and almost intrusive electronic/dance parts scattered on the album. The album really kicks off with the 2nd track titled "Make It Precious," which also happens to be the first song Make Me Famous ever released. The rest of the album is well put together and well produced, and nothing is really too overdone in my eyes... I mean my ears.
Denis has an extremely high vocal range (listen to Once You Killed A Cow, You Gotta Make A Burger) and is well complimented by Serj Kravchenko, who does the powerful lows that are dominant throughout the album. The two harmonize cleans and screams beautifully and take advantage of it wonderfully. In fact, everyone in the band is great at what they do. Catchy guitar melodies are laid down on top of chugging guitars that follow the drummer, who plays absolutely out of his mind. Some of the drum fills and double bass work are pretty remarkable, especially for a metalcore album. The 7th track titled "In the Shadows of You" is a step away from the usual, given that it sounds like a glam metal instrumental, but is none the less my favorite track on the album and really shows off the technical complexity this band has.
For a band that started out on Youtube, these guys did alright. It's nothing groundbreaking and they aren't changing the metalcore genre anytime soon, but this is a great album regardless. The instrumentation and vocals are all wonderful, even though they are occasionally broken up by the repetitive and pointless electronic parts, but it's not enough to hamper the listening experience. With all the "Attack Attack" and "Asking Alexandria's" of the world, this is a nice change of pace.
