Review Summary: Champions of the metalcore scene While She Sleeps release a successful follow up to a breathtaking debut
While She Sleeps could be considered something of an anomaly, beginning their career at a time when teenager's with an interest in alternative fashion and music would flock to the concerts of bands with music characterized by screamed vocals, harmonised clean choruses, and chugging breakdowns. The adolescent lyrics and juxtaposition of aggression and anthemic choruses provided an accessible gateway into heavier genres of music, and an appropriate forum for troubled kids to vent their frustrations. While She Sleeps are often thrown into this category of bands, yet one listen to their debut record could conceivably cause one to question exactly what it is about the band that caused this interest. They are far heavier than bands such as Asking Alexandria and Black Veil Brides, their softer moments are not reserved for singalong friendly choruses, they have no random solo thrown in to give the impression of technical proficiency, and their breakdown sections are not purely open string chugging with a talentless moron chanting profanity over the top of it, channeling their inner Corey Taylor. This Is The Six, their debut record, was far more rooted in the hardcore genre, with power chord lead riffs creating a solid wall of sound at a high tempo, whilst Loz Taylor spews politically charged lyrics over the top of this. Their debut record was a work of brilliance, and it was going to be a tough job following it up. It was also interesting to see whether the band would tap into the sections of their fanbase mentioned previously with their second record, Braineashed.
For the most part, they did not. Sure, their sound has far more melodic riffs and moments that cause you to get out of your seat and chant along, but this is still a riff fest with bludgeoningly heavy riffs, psychotic drumming, and a fantastic vocal performance from Loz. The lyrics maintain their socio-political commentary, with Brainwashed and Four Walls being good examples of this, and the breakdowns/drops are far more riff-oriented, such as a particular moment towards the end of the title track. Our Legacy is the closest the band came to attempting to emulate the types of bands they were often mentioned in the same breath as, and this is perhaps the weakest moment on the record, but it still is chock full of riffs. New World Torture is a frantic and heavy introduction to what this album is comprised of, with several fantastic riffs and a groove that would not feel out of place on a Lamb of God record when they were at their peak. This band seamlessly merges these components, to the point that their sound is instantly recognisable. They did not compromise with the release of their sophomore record, instead utilizing a wider range of tools at their disposal to great effect, such as the incredible chorus to Trophies Of Violence, or the "walk the rope walk the rope" chant earlier in the album. The production is absolutely surgical, meticulously bringing to life every aspect of the band's sound. Brainwashed was probably the album of the year. If you havent heard it, I highly recommend it.
