It Lies Within

Chrysalis

Written by: PP on 03/10/2012 03:44:07

Speaking of bands trending into the knowledge of scenesters at large, the slick and well-produced metalcore of It Lies Within is making some inroads to the hearts and minds of genre fans across the US at the moment with the release of their debut album "Chrysalis". Sounding like the sum of parts consisting of Asking Alexandria, Chelsea Grin, The Devil Wears Prada, and As I Lay Dying, they're hugging a whole bunch of current trends on the album, whether in the form of generic one-chord chug-chug passages, humongous breakdowns, or the occasional electronic backdrop that pervades their sound in the right places to make it sound catchier than it is in reality.

You see, It Lies Within have no problem in repeating the same chord ad infinitum if it means they can paste dramatic electronic effects on the background. It achieves two things exactly: makes the sound very, very modern, and helps the band sway the more gullible young listeners on their side who haven't heard the metalcore classics where art of the riff was appreciated over dumbed down songwriting such as this. That said, It Lies Within also do know how to write slick metalcore riffs As I Lay Dying style when they feel like it. There are plenty of passages that suggest just that on the record. It's just that they are joined together by meaningless breakdowns, as well as standard, fairly anonymous screaming and growling that often feels like wraaghing for wraaghing's sake. Otherwise known as the Devil Wears Prada problem.

But despite its shortcomings, "Chrysalis" isn't a bad metalcore album. It's the kind of album you'd expect most modern incarnations of bands to write these days, what with the consistent use of backing electronic effects, breakdowns, brutal screaming, and fairly catchy clean vocals. It's also the kind of album that'll predictably gain a big following fast, if for no other reason than the catchy "Home Is Where The Heart Is", the danceable "Redefined Identity" or the moshable "Find Your Truth". While they still have some ways to go before reaching the genre elite, this is a fine debut album, even if it doesn't do enough to distinguish itself from the masses of other bands doing the same thing.

7

Download: Home Is Where The Heart Is, Redefined Identity, Find Your Truth
For the fans of: Asking Alexandria, Chelsea Grin, As I Lay Dying, The Devil Wears Prada
Listen: Facebook

Release date 04.09.2012
Luxor Records

Related Items | How we score?
Comments
comments powered by Disqus

Legal

© Copyright MMXXIV Rockfreaks.net.