Verse
Aggression


4.0
excellent

Review

by Dancin' Man USER (40 Reviews)
July 23rd, 2008 | 224 replies


Release Date: 2008 | Tracklist

Review Summary: Powerful, emotional hardcore for the politically savvy.

Verse succeed in something really special on this album. They present the listening with a blueprint for what modern hardcore should be. There is nothing groundbreaking on this album, instead Verse manages to refine all different aspects of hardcore and create a gem.

I'll begin with the song writing. Most songs begin with a short guitar interlude before launching into thundering riffs and tight, crushing drums. The vocals push the edge of what his voice is capable of, and given the politically charged lyrical content, it's easy to understand why. What is suprising about this band though, is how individually unremarkable each are. I wouldn't assume that Verse are bad musicians because this album is great and each part locks into all of the others perfectly, something they have perfected over the course of three albums.
This band has proved the test of time through steady touring and solid releases.

The lyrics and vocals are possibly my favorite part of this album. The New Fury kicks off the album with passionate lyrics, bellowed, not processed. His voice often breaks, but the urgency with which he screams really translates from what he is saying. On Earth and Stone, there is evidence of attempted singing, cleverly buried in the mix and behind his own scarred voice. Describing how political the lyrics are could put off some listeners, but never fear. I don't want to hear anymore songs about how bad Bush is from commercially owned and operated bands. Verse instead addresses more personal issues to real people, with real problems existing in today's America. One of my favorite lyrics of the album appears at the end of a three part epic about the life of a soldiers son. Chapter one describes a homeless man waking up and asking himself why he is in his situation. He recalls his father going to war and his own descent into rage and depression. He turns to addiction to numb his pain. In Chapter 2, his father is killed at war and the son recognizes that it was never his fathers war to fight. Then we find our character where the story began. Chapter two builds steadily into his conclusion that his own life is not worth throwing away and explodes into chapter three, "I'm walking away from this," he said with conviction. He walked away a new man...This is the story of a free man.

Though the first track might be my favorite, none of them are very far removed from each other in terms of quality. The production is consistently top notch, allowing the listener to hear everything clearly without taking away from the emotional impact of the record. The guitars are melodic and heavy, providing solid, catchy melodies and harmonies, which is really nice to have in a genre where lyrics often need to be read to be understood, and singing along can catch plenty of unwanted stares, or at the very least, a phone call from a concerned neighbor.

Seriously, all fans of hardcore should be listening to this. It very well may be the best hardcore release of 2008. I'm excited to see what else Verse release, given their progression from earlier albums. I am excited for the next time I get to see these guys.

P.S. Ending your album with a chant of the title, is apparently awesome. I don't think I would have believed that before I heard this.



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user ratings (526)
4.1
excellent
other reviews of this album
EyeForAnEye (5)
A decade after its release, Aggression remains a viscerally human and relevant album....



Comments:Add a Comment 
cbmartinez
July 24th 2008


2525 Comments


I have this because I really dig on From Anger And Rage, great hardcore album. Havent listened yet though.

Athom
Emeritus
July 24th 2008


17244 Comments


I love love love love love this album right now. awesome review.

joshuatree
Emeritus
July 24th 2008


3744 Comments


Got this the other day, haven't given it a good listen yet though.

iarescientists
July 24th 2008


5865 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

album rules

IsItLuck?
Emeritus
July 24th 2008


4957 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

dancin' man wtf where have you been

SnackaryBinx
July 24th 2008


2309 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

just got finished listening to this, it's awesome

Dancin' Man
July 24th 2008


719 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

Chillin.

Damrod
Moderator
July 24th 2008


1093 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

Excellent album. I do not really know why everyone is all over the new Have Heart, as this is IMHO quite a notch better... definately, with Killing The Dream's Fractures, one of the best releases in Hardcore this year

Dancin' Man
July 24th 2008


719 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

Have Heart is like verse with a better drummer and worse everything else.

allthewayrider
July 25th 2008


1 Comments


Have Heart and Verse have the same drummer, Shawn Costa.

SnackaryBinx
July 25th 2008


2309 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

I think Have Heart could compete with this if they made their album longer than 21 minutes

Polaris
July 25th 2008


246 Comments


Hmm, I will listen to this eventually.

br3ad_man
July 28th 2008


2126 Comments


Good review DM, nice to see you around again. My review of this should up later tonight.

Damrod
Moderator
July 28th 2008


1093 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

I just noticed, the vocals on "Earth And Stone" can remind one a lot of At The Drive-In actually

Bleak123
September 7th 2008


1900 Comments


This album is pretty damn fine. It's a good record to vent some frustration listening to.

itserwinfersure
September 27th 2008


11 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5

An album with as much passion as this only comes once every few years. I'm sure the vocalist's vocal chords hurt so much after recording this, but he better be damn proud. This album has so much relevance these days.

handoman
October 18th 2008


2386 Comments


****in love this album. Verse > Have Heart.

iarescientists
October 18th 2008


5865 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

THIS IS THE STORY OF

THIS IS THE STORY OF

THIS IS THE STORY OF

A FREEEEEEEEEEEEEEE MANNNNNNNNNN

daniel58
December 2nd 2008


16 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

underrated, and oh so good

Bleak123
December 12th 2008


1900 Comments


passionate



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