Review Summary: Top notch. If they had any radio/television exposure at all, they would have won best rock album for 08.
Noise Within is the little known current project of Boris Bouma (Epidemic), Aaron Slipp (Prong), Tommy Sickles (Nothingface), and John "Tumor" Fahnestock. This band is made of some of the industries finest players, and they work so well together that the music of Rage Against the Machine or Tool comes to mind in that sense (the music is quite different, but the synergy is very much the same.)
The best way to explain their sound would be, to me, the very definition of rock music as it should stand today. This is not to say they are mainstream or generic in any way with their sound. This band stands out with their heavy riffs and blues sounding overlays, punk energy drumming, menacingly ballsy melodic vocals, and hard hitting and surprisingly present bass sound. It is pure rock music at its very finest.
The album opens up with the track "Not Your Friend". A killer opener with a mosh worthy drum line evolving into a punk beat that leads way to one of the best flowing choruses I've ever heard. This song delivers and gets in your head thanks to the aforementioned chorus. My only complaint here would be that it has, during transitions some sort of sloppy vocal work, but this is a small blemish on an otherwise perfect song.
4/5
"May All Your Flags Burn" is a brutal anthem of anti-establishment. It's chorus is so strong and could best be described as a cross between the most heartfelt of vocalizations uttered and an undertone of absolute rage. It is a primal scream that is beautifully angry and delivered flawlessly. This could be the best and heaviest hitting track on the album.
5/5
"Opportunity" This track is what you get when you blend high energy punk song with a metal edge, but don't mistake this description for hardcore or metalcore. What we get here is the best of both worlds. A highly mosh-able motivating beat with a heavy edge. It is a new breed of music on it's own that can't really be pigeon holed into one genre.
4.5/5
"Join The Dead" shows of the guitar work of Slipp and Bouma with perfectly executed riffs and a (once again) EXTREMELY catchy chorus. This is another contender for the best on the album. It is the kind of song that will make the hair stand up on your arms and have you singing along as Bouma delivers the last line over the beautiful outro "find another well to drain, this one is bled dry."
5/5
"In The Room" is a stand out track in that it is pure energy. It brings to mind the craziest sounding songs of the grunge movement (think Nirvana's "Tourettes") The whole band delivers a rage filled screaming breakdown towards the end like a psycho ward gone mad that shows us the real meaning of heavy has nothing to do with fast guitar solos and repetitive double bass like some might think.
4.5/5
"Divided We Stand" is a relatively weak track on the album, and while it doesn't stand out from the rest, still gets an above average score with its solid work from all members. The only thing lacking seems to be real emotion in the vocals.
3/5
"Privilege" Another stellar piece of vocal work from Bouma. This track swings wildly from tranquilizing cool down verses to absolutely HUGE sounding choruses and breakdowns, and on to some of the more memorable moments of the album.
4.5/5
"Jericho Road" A track that never slows down and has yet another 5 star chorus from Bouma, and more of Sickles' infectious punk school drumming. A criticism of our country's handling of Hurricane Katrina has never been so loud as this.
4.5/5
"Law 18" This is everything Seether is in their best moments all in one one song. The style is a pure rock sound like you've never heard executed so skillfully and so concentrated. Another classic whose bass lines drive home the point of Bouma's heartfelt brutal vocals and the other instruments are nothing to laugh at. Perfection in rock. A classic regardless of how many times they don't play it on the radio.
5/5
"The Chase" This song shows off the bands talents one by one in the only lighter track on the album. Blues inspiration is clearly felt here as the album is closed off.
3.5/5
How can this album not be Platinum?! Because the album was self produced by the band (and with more skill than most signed bands will ever achieve (Apparently Bouma is a sound technician and did the mxing on the album)) The instruments could not be more well mixed and balanced. The bass and drums feed off of each other and drive the hard hitting guitar riffs and beautifully executed vocals home. The Drumming is VERY noteworthy here too. This is Sickle's best work, and shows he can keep pace with the best of them. Oh, and did I mention the album is FREE?!!! Go to http://noisewithin.com/store.html and click the email link. Bottom line is, trust me, if you love rock music, GET THIS ALBUM.
