[MUSIC] Secrets – The Ascent [REVIEW]

SECRETS
The Ascent
[Rise Records/Velocity]
Verdict: 6/10
RIYL: WOE, IS ME, MEMPHIS MAY FIRE & THE COLOR MORALE

Much has been written about the modern post-hardcore “scene”, but for all the negatives, there is certainly a lot of quality bands that have emerged in the past five years, so fans of the genre have a plethora of groups to choose from. What differentiates one band from the other? THE WORD ALIVE features keyboards and technical riffing. CHIODOS and PIERCE THE VEIL employ progressive songwriting to add a unique energy to their songs. Where does new Rise Records signing SECRETS fit in the mold? Sadly they haven’t figured that out yet. For my money, their debut record, The Ascent, is more than competent post-hardcore. The melodies are there; vocalist Xander Bourgeois shares a kindred with MEMPHIS MAY FIRE’s singer Matty Mullins. His clean vocals are strong and melodic, and the harsh vocals have a certain meat behind them that is often lacking in younger bands. The problems lie with the music. There is little to nothing that helps them stand out from the crowd. There are breakdowns a plenty, and the songs seem tailor-made for maximum breakdown to hook ratio. In their favor, everything is done with a certain vigor that made me enjoy this more than I should have. I think maybe that is what SECRETS has going for them: passion. The problem is passion alone can’t captivate a listening audience for 36 minutes. For now, we are left with an enjoyably competent debut. Let’s wait and see if the band can improve with their sophomore release.        – by Nicholas Senior

Recommended Listening: “Melodies” and “The Heartless Part”
Release Date: January 17th, 2012
Production Notes: Produced by Tom Denney
In Conclusion: The secret to this band’s success is something that is not evident with their debut. The group needs to do more to differentiate itself from the pack in future releases.