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05.22.12
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[MUSIC REVIEW] Architects (UK) – Daybreaker

ARCHITECTS (UK)
Daybreaker
[Century Media Records]
Verdict: 7.5/10
RIYL: YOUR DEMISE, NORMA JEAN & MISERY SIGNALS

Since 2007, Brighton, UK’s ARCHITECTS (UK) have been making a name for themselves. It wasn’t until the bands third full length, Hollow Crown released in 2009, that the band hit their stride. Hollow Crown mixed their energetic Bless The Martyr… era NORMA JEAN influenced hardcore meets metalcore with their own brand of brutality and melody. When they released 2011′s The Here And Now they experimented a little and added more melody, much to the chagrin of their fans. Daybreaker finds the ARCHITECTS (UK) mixing the best of both and creating a whole new creature without losing their own identity. Album opener ‘The Bitter End’, sets the tone and mood perfectly as it’s hauntingly sung vocals and eerie background music sets in. It’s when Sam Carter starts screaming that the listener begins to understand that they mean business. ‘Alpha Omega’ kicks in and shreds as good as any material from Hollow Crown ever did. Sam’s vocal prowess even mistakenly leads the listener to believe, near the end of the track, that LINKIN PARK’s Chester Bennington lent his talents. From this point on Daybreaker ebbs and flows nicely. This is definitely a more mature record for the band as they have managed to balance that delicate line between trendy and trend setters. ‘Behind The Throne’, easily the most epic song the band has ever written, proves that these boys are on to something. It’s a hauntingly beautiful and dark track that many may push aside as not interesting. But like SLIPKNOT’s last two records, there is so much more happening and proven here that to brush it aside does not only the band a great disservice, but it’s denying ones self of some amazing music. On the other side of the fence, ‘Feather Of Lead’ displays the bands new found ability to rock a track by keeping it heavy without being over the top. Which perfectly describes the overall tone of Daybreaker. The ARCHITECTS (UK) are on to something here.                     -by Jon Hole

Recommended listening: ‘These Colors Don’t Run’, ‘Behind The Throne’ & ‘Devils Island’
Guest musicians: Jon Green of DEEZ NUTS on ‘These Colors Dont Run’; Oli Sykes of BRING ME THE HORIZON on ‘Even If You Win, Youre Still A Rat’ & Drew York of STRAY FROM THE PATH on ‘Outsider Heart’
Production credits: Produced by the Architects (UK) with John Mitchell and Ben Humphreys at Outhouse Studios in Reading (Enter Shikari, Your Demise)
Release date: Europe: May 28, 2012 / USA: June 5, 2012
In conclusion…Bringing back just enough of the Hollow Crown sound, due in part to using the same production team, Daybreaker is the bands most mature outing to date.

As an extra bonus, when the album is purchased via iTunes, it has a bonus track titled ‘Rise Against’, which is funny because the band RISE AGAINST has a track titled ‘Architects’.

08.23.11
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[MUSIC] Stray From The Path – Rising Sun [REVIEW]

STRAY FROM THE PATH
Rising Sun
[Sumerian Records]
Verdict: 9/10

Every so often in a certain genre, a band will emerge that is so genuine and groundbreaking, they end up throwing people off and they sadly go unrecognized for a long time. Hardcore has long been a genre filled with bands like this. From the early days of MADBALL to the current crop including THE GHOST INSIDE. Long Island’s STRAY FROM THE PATH are in this category. After releasing two incredibly pissed and highly energetic records, 2008′s Villians and 2009′s Make Your Own History, this year see’s the release of the bands newest and even more adrenaline fueled angst record, Rising Sun. Keeping with their trademark chaotic frenzy the disc opens with title track and never slows down from there. Every track is a dizzying ride though pure aggression. Not the bottom heavy, bowel loosening aggression of a lot of bands these days, but that deep seething hatred and disgust in man. The grooves are tight and the ‘hardcore brother of RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE’ style chaotic-ness is never ending. Drew York’s distinct vocal approach never tires and keeps assaulting the ears as he blasts everything under the sun. This time, they even employed the vocal talents of a few friends. Jonathan Vigil of THE GHOST INSIDE on the devastating track ‘Death Beds’ switching off vocals the two completely rape the mic, Andrew Neufeld of COMEBACK KID, is a perfect volatile match on the track ‘Bring It Back To The Streets’ and NORMA JEAN’s Cory Brandan who adds his southern fried vocals to the track ‘Prey’. Rising Sun never has a dull moment and is without a doubt going to be one of the top contenders in this genre. Get Negative and Violent, and do yourself a favor, check out Rising Sun and get with the program. WARNING! This record is NOT intended for use by overly happy and obnoxious people looking for a quick fix of heavy. People in pursuit of honest music need only apply! -by Jon Hole

(not that Rising Sun ‘needs’ this but…) Second Opinion

Verdict: 8.5/10

Hot damn STRAY FROM THE PATH is angry! Angry about the state of the music industry, sanctimonious Christian bands who use their religion to make money, and relationships. This is not an album to pick your mood up after a long work day; this is an album to get people to get mad as hell and do something about it. Isn’t that what hardcore is all about anyway? Getting people to rally against (or for) a cause? The best bands are able to do this in spades, and if that’s the benchmark for a good hardcore band, then STRAY FROM THE PATH deserve high marks. However, there are other important factors, like enjoying the listening experience and the band certainly do not let down there either. Of freaking course there are ‘breakdowns’ (but they’re often fairly interesting), and vocalist Drew York still loves to yell “BLEH!!” like he’s literally spewing out the lyrics, but aside from typical genre complaints, who the hell won’t find this album just damn fun to listen to? Rising Sun incorporates interesting guitar riffs that are often much more technical than standard hardcore (they are on Sumerian, home of “Sumeriancore”, which I’m sure might have something to do with that), and almost every listener will find him or herself headbanging throughout this album. Get Rising Sun now, and get in on the angry fun. – by Nick Senior

08.02.11
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[MUSIC] Underoath [INTERVIEW]

INTERVIEW W/ DANIEL DAVISON (DRUMS) BY MICHAEL TAHMASIAN


How’s this tour been so far?

It’s been good, we’ve been out for I guess about a month now. Between three weeks to a month.

Any interesting stories yet?

I can’t think of a specific story, but it’s been cool. It’s our first time touring with any of these bands. We’ve known some of the guys from previous bands or whatever, but it’s been awesome getting to know all of them like letlive, Stray From The Path, and Times Of Grace. They’re all awesome dudes and we’ve been hanging out every day.

How do you feel Disambiguation is different from past Underoath albums?

I think the most obvious difference is Aaron not being in the band anymore and Spencer having taken over all the vocals. I think that’s the most obvious difference, not having Aaron’s voice there. I think it took away kind of the poppier element of the band. Now the band kind of leans more towards the darker vibe, maybe more mature. That’s how I see it anyway. And then, Aaron and I have different drumming styles, but I don’t think that’s as obvious as the absence of his vocals.

What’s it like being the new guy in the band and how was recording for the first time with Underoath?

It was cool. I mean I’ve known the guys for like 10 years. We’ve been good friends for a long time so it was a pretty easy transition. Now it’s been like a year and half and it doesn’t even feel that new anymore. But it’s been great.

What is your favorite song to play live right now and why?

I really like a song we’re playing this tour, as far as the songs we’re playing on this tour, “Vacant Mouth,” which is one of the new songs off of Disambiguation. This is the first tour we’re playing it and it’s really fun. But a song that we’re not playing “A Divine Eradication,” which is one of the heavier songs on the record, is just really fun to play.

Underoath usually incorporates videos into their live shows, what inspires those?

Tim, the guitar player, used to do the majority of that and put it together but when I joined the band I kind of took over that realm. He and I did that together for a little bit and he has a lot other stuff within the band that he contributes to, so I’ve taken over doing that. I mean I’ve always, I guess for the last ten years or so, been really interested in and involved in film and video. Again, just like the music, I like to capture dark vibes; not really with any message or storyline but more just experimental.

How’d you get into film?

Just through being into photography, which I got into during high school. In 9th or 10th grade I took a photography class and that just kind of turned me onto that. Then somebody bought me a Super 8 Camera, which is like old 60’s movie film; that was probably in 2002. It was the same thing as photography, except everything is moving. So it was just kind of the next natural progression from doing photography.

What music are you listening to these days and being influenced by?

I rarely listen to a lot of heavy music anymore, but the few bands that are of that genre that are inspiring and have a passion and a feeling that I think heavy music should have are letlive and Stray From The Path. If you watch their shows, it’s just very energetic and real. It’s not like all this new cheesy heavy bands that are coming, that to me are a dime a dozen. There’s real passion and meaning and real energy. I mean I’ve said it like five times, it’s just real music. So yeah, those bands as far as heavy music go, but I listen to a lot of ambient stuff. It’s just more chill. Radiohead, I think everyone in our band would say Radiohead. They’ve been one of my favorite bands for the last ten years. A band called Woven Hand and Blonde Redhead – those are kind of my go to bands

What plans does Underoath have after this tour?

Two days after this tour ends we go to Europe for five festivals. Then we come home and have like two or three weeks off and then start another US tour in mid-September with Comeback Kid, The Chariot, and This Is Hell.

Anything else you want to add or tell the fans?

I don’t think so, except to anyone who’s reading this, just thank you for the support.

12.02.10
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[Poll] Vote For 2010 Album Of The Year