It Dies Today

Lividity

Written by: BL on 23/01/2010 17:31:29

While you can't blame a band if their label decides to continually delay an album, it certainly makes it hard to judge the record especially considering the relevance of something that was released over a year late. It Dies Today started as one of main talked about melodic metalcore bands during 2004 when at the time the genre still enjoyed huge popularity. Their solid debut album "The Caitiff Choir" got them plenty of success amongst the new breed of poppy emo kids who dared to venture into more metallic hardcore territory. After a slightly disappointing sophomore album "Sirens" the band has since sunk into the depths of mediocrity along with countless other metalcore bands as the genre started to wane. After the departure of their long time vocalist Nick Brooks many thought the band had reached the end of the road.

Newcomer vocalist Jason Wood marks his debut for this band having previously sang over two songs from "Sirens" on the band myspace. His voice is actually shaped very similar to Nick Brooks in having a borderline guttural scream and super soft and polished clean vocals, only slightly lacking in actual deepness. For the most part he delivers a fairly competent performance but at the same time nothing really stands out to me either, especially considering myself a veteran of the genre and having heard hundreds of vocalists who can both sing and scream (and Nick was certainly someone a bit more special back in the day). It could also be that a lot of the choruses were simply just not catchy enough ("Reckless Abandon" comes close) and somewhat lacking in ambition nor is there enough bite in the really heavy sections (even in the hard hitting and brainless but mildly fun "Thank You For Drinking"). Speaking of which, the band has decided that "Sirens" lacked the heaviness their debut had in spades, so have decided to tear things up a notch by making the guitar riffs dirtier and groovier, and slotting in numerous more breakdowns. Unfortunately song structures are still a little too generic and pop centered so you can always guess what is coming up next. That and also if you've been heard Still Remains, Haste The Day or any Destroy The Runner most of what you will hear will sound fairly recycled.

It isn't so much that this record is that bad in any way or form though, since if you let it slip by your active concentration it passes as easy (but tired) listening. The mixing sounds fairly good and most songs don't outstay their welcome too much (apart from the closer). It's just that the only moments of inspiration (like some of the guitars on "Complacence Without Pursuit") are so few and far between all the mashed up bland genericore riffs and breakdowns I've heard a thousand times over that it eventually becomes painfully clear - this band is playing in a style of music that has since already seen its share of the spotlight and is on its way out of everyone's minds. It doesn't also help that the album was actually written during the late months of 2007 and so is actually a lot older time wise anyway than other releases last year. Not to say that all hope is lost for this band, they just need to start writing music that doesn't sound like something from a few years ago you'd pick up in a bargin sale for 2.99 (as harsh as that sounds).

5

Download: Reckless Abandon, Thank You For Drinking, Complacence Without Persuit
For the fans of: Still Remains, Haste The Day, Destroy The Runner
Listen: Myspace

Release date 15.09.2009
Trustkill Records

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