Tag Archives: greeley estates

11.17.12
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[REVIEW] Greeley Estates – The Narrow Road EP

GREELEY ESTATES
The Narrow Road
[Independent]
Verdict: 8.5/10

Having parted ways with Tragic Hero Records, Greeley Estates decided to do something unique on their own. Instead of putting out a new full length, they’ve split up the recording process into two separate EP’s. The first disc, The Narrow Road, is just about to drop (at the time of writing this) and fans should be very excited. If you’ve been following GE since their early days, then The Narrow Road will cause even more joy for you. Like a blend between Go West and Caveat Emptor, the new EP features the best elements of the band spanning their entire career. While the band’s last two albums weren’t so hard hitting (No Rain, No Rainbow was a bit straight forward, and The Death Of was too progressive and muddled), The Narrow Road instantly brings the band back to the glory right out the gate. Both instrumentally and vocally, long time fans will be able to spot classic writing molded with the band’s more recent heavy aggression. “Head Under Water” will probably become the most popular, as it rings closer to GE’s old material, but that’s not to say the rest of the EP falters. It’s far from doing that, in fact. The Narrow Road gets better with repeated listens, and it never loses steam. All seven tracks are fast, furious, and in your face. “Lot Lizards” feels like a b-side off Go West, “Watch It Burn” has an anthem-like quality to it, “Die” is spitting with absolute hatred, and “Doomsday” has a very chaotic grip to it. Ultimately, The Narrow Road is an excellent return for the band, leading anticipation for Devil Son to the extreme. – by Nathaniel Lay

>> Classification: Metal
>> Recommended Tracks: “Head Under Water”, “Lot Lizards”, “Watch It Burn”
>> In Conclusion: After the disappointment I found with the last two records, it’s great to hear the band returning more to its roots. The Narrow Road is a beast of an EP that longtime and new found fans should surely enjoy.

08.01.11
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[MUSIC] Greeley Estates – The Death Of [REVIEW]

GREELEY ESTATES
The Death Of Greeley Estates
[Tragic Hero Records]
Verdict: 8/10

When a band like GREELEY ESTATES hits the scene, it’s to great fan appreciation and love. Even when they change their sound from post-hardcore to full on metalcore aggression. Such was the transition from 2008′s Go West Young Man, Let The Evil Go East to last year’s No Rain, No Rainbow. In keeping with this metamorphosis, The Death Of Greeley Estates sees a perfect mixture of the clean, crisp melodies and production of Go West… blending with the powerful nature of No Rain… to produce a record that not only retains all the heavier elements, as well as the kid choruses, but the delicious melodies that make GREELEY ESTATES so original. Album opener “Straightjacket” embodies all these elements and turns heads. It mixes the old with the new to make a racket that is truely invigorating even adding additional elements like the crazy track opening samples, which do liter the entire album, not becoming annoying but adding the perfect atmosphere for what these guys do. “The Last Dance” wastes no time getting down ‘n’ dirty with a nasty little groove and a very memorable clean chorus. The only oddity is how the vocals were recorded. They sound deep in the mix or as if they were recorded in a huge warehouse, but for some reason it works beautifully. Again, only adding to the atmosphere and overall vibe of the record. The story telling in the songwritting has gotten to a point that one could imagine them used as a soundtrack to a movie or television show, as in the track “Bodies”. Amazing stuff. “A Thousand Burning Forests” has a vibe that is almost epic. It’s a “slower”, but no less aggressive, song that just bleeds emotion and passion. This is songwriting at its finest. A huge leap forward for this style of music. It ends and bleeds into “Broken”, an interlude that adds to the massiveness and creativeness these boys are spilling all over this record. “Leave The Light On” is the end result of the previous two tracks and its as heavy as anything heard on No Rain… if not more so in its maturity. The opening moments of “The Reaction” has an element to it thats every bit as exciting and brutal as anything on any Summer Slaughter Tour. A nod towards the skill these boys have. Album closer “December”, like the months of the year, ends on a note that is melancholy and beautiful at the same time. Do not sleep on this record. This new GREELEY ESTATES will be the death of a scene that has lost its heart and passion. This is merely a beginning… — by Jon Hole

10.29.10
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A BULLET FOR PRETTY BOY – Revision:Revise [Review]

A BULLET FOR PRETTY BOY
Revision: Revise
[Artery Recordings]
Score: 9
Stream: “Deceiver”
RIYL: The Word Alive, Sleeping With Sirens, The Devil Wears Prada

I would like to note I remained unbiased when writing this review, considering Chris Johnston of ABFPB did graphic work with Lexington Music Press. That being said, Revision:Revise is immediately explosive and energetic from all angles, whether it’s heard through the singing, screaming, breakdowns, or what have you. The opening track, “Deceiver”, instantly becomes a favorite with its soaring chorus, underlying melody, and aggressive guitar work. The song is then followed by the band’s first album single (and title track), “Revision: Revise”, which is almost a full series of breakdowns and brutal strength from start to finish, even when the bridge is going near the three minute mark. While these guys could easily be compared to a lot of bands, the fact is they’re doing this genre justice big time. The singing sounds a lot like Kellum of Sleeping With Sirens, which is pretty cool. The screaming is more similar to that of Evergreen Terrace or Bury Tomorrow. The song construction and instrumental work itself is like a blend of The Word Alive, The Devil Wears Prada, and Greeley Estates. These awesome comparisons aside, ABFP still manage to make a sound all their own while pulling in elements from multiple directions. While the first three tracks have a similar feel to them, the fourth (“Patterns”) has a sound all its own. The pacing is not quite as fast, and the set up seems more widely constructed. As a result, this track quickly stands out and will be replayed more than others. “Only Time Will Tell” and “Voices And Vessels” also follow this suite, and a pattern becomes apparent. The first three tracks are more power than anything, the middle three tracks are more well rounded, and the final four tracks are more of a blend of both styles, while also experimenting in some new territories along the way. In all honesty, I had a feeling this album would sound too much the same throughout. I was wrong. A Bullet For Pretty Boy keep things varied enough throughout, as well as blow your mind countless times along the way. Revision: Revise is an excellent debut from one of Artery’s current finest. Confucius predicts many great tours to come for ABFPB. (NL)