Review Summary: An almost flawless, genre defining album. Poison the Well's full length debut helped to pioneer the now unmistakable metalcore sound and is certain to leave a lasting impression on any fan of hardcore/metal music with an emotional edge.
In today's modern American metal scene, it can be said that it is rare to find a band that sticks out amongst the crowd and offers something completely new and fresh. Since metalcore began making a name for itself, countless acts have adopted it's style in an effort to become the next best thing, with the majority of them falling flat on their face. However, amidst all the generic or just plain terrible bands, there are a sparse few who have consistently released excellent, even groundbreaking records. Poison the Well brought us their debut full length The Opposite of December in 1999 and helped to pioneer a style of metal and hardcore that has been mimicked time and time again. Over time, this has become one of the few albums that can be regarded as a classic within the genre.
The album wastes no time in hitting you as hard as possible. Opener 12-23-93 is a ferocious blend of chugging guitars and screamed vocals, the introductory drum fill just one of many examples of how sporadic yet brilliant the drumming of Chris Hornbrook is. Jeffrey Moreira's literally screams his heart out throughout the track, his poignant and thoughtful lyrics being expressed in a wonderful attack on the senses. It's evident if one were to sift through the metalcore scene that they would discover that many a vocalist have tried to emulate Jeffrey's style. But for me, his vocals are a standout point in the genre as well as the band alone. Aside from his screamed vocals, he also demonstrates some clean singing - nothing extraordinary but it's unashamedly emotional and brings a completely new aspect to the band's sound. His almost spoken like passages, one of the best featuring in A Wish For Wings That Work, are also a breath of fresh air and work terrifically.
The guitar work throughout The Opposite of December works on the basis that simple yet effective is better than technical and overblown. In terms of the riffs they write, Derek Miller and Ryan Primack opt for a mix of brutal, rhythmic chugs and wonderfully penned clean guitar passages. One bugbear many have with this album is how repetitive the guitars are, yet in my opinion, there is enough variation in the riffs to keep it from becoming stale and boring. The bass is often lost in the mix, yet shines every now again, such as in the melodic breakdown of Slice Paper Wrists and the closing sections of Artists Rendering of Me. The winner for most emotional clean guitar section undoubtedly goes to the album's closing track, My Mirror No Longer Reflects. Desolation and despair are conveyed painfully well through Jeffrey's cries of 'end me', whilst in the background the guitars contrast with a beautiful melodic section. That isn't to say that these sections are sparse and far between in the record. A brief clean riff in Artists Rendering of Me sets things up for an epic and emotional closing section, Jeff's vocals shining over the top of Derek and Ryan's twin guitar assault.
The emotion that runs through this album is one of the main things that helps to contribute to it's greatness. Lyrically, every song is very strong, with many standing out with particularly poetic lyrics. Nerdy holds host to a theme that almost all of us can relate to, where we want that certain special someone to become more than just friends. In my opinion, this scenario hasn't been so well expressed since Jeffrey penned the lyrics to Nerdy.
Overall, The Opposite of December is essentially one of the definitive metalcore releases. Through a combination of beauty and brutality, a band whom were extremely young at the time have managed to craft a timeless album. It's impact on the scene is undeniable, even if a few people do not regard it as the quintessential metalcore acquisition. If you're a fan of hardcore/metalcore with a supremely emotional edge, then this album should undoubtedly be a part of your collection.
Recommended Tracks
12-23-93
Artists Rendering of Me
Nerdy
My Mirror No Longer Reflects
But every track is excellent.
