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Like Moths To Flames

An Eye For An Eye

Written by: BL on 14/07/2013 22:43:24

Like Moths To Flames' new album "An Eye For An Eye" plays out as a sort of metalcore soundtrack to the life of that unpopular kid in highschool. The one who could only see the world as something they won't accept, and yet they continued to march on - and now they've grown up. In other words, what you get is twelve angry and loud songs that exudes all kinds of pubescent angst and bitterness but with a darker tone. That and the band sounds as if they aren't going to give two shits what you might have to say to them back, even if they won't always get away with it.

Look no further than the appropriately titled openers "You'll Burn" and "A Feast For Crows" to get yourself familiar with the Like Moths To Flames sound. Immediately apparent is how very controlled the finer aspects are - eerie and effective lead guitar instrumentals cut a slender figure in a soundscape dominated by devastating breakdowns and down tuned riffing. Some catchy clean choruses also provide the necessary utility to counter-balance the brooding heavier passages reasonably aptly thanks to vocalist Chris Roetter's easy ability to shift his voice between his pained screams and his singing. The track "The Common Misconception" highlights an early peak on the album where everything meshes, the melodic parts well thought out while the heavy parts tearing like a bulldozer. None of it is exactly original, but they get the job done.

Not to say that you won't find throwaway songs like "I Solemnly Swear" though. The knack of constantly sounding pissed off and riffing the same few low notes in different ways can only take you so far, marred further by a mundane and slightly cringeworthy chorus lyrically ("The world's been dead to me for too long" - yes, we get it). The mid section of the album also lulls in momentum ironically where Like Moths To Flames are at their most melodic. "In Dreams" for example is the only song where Roetter sings the entire way through (though one can tell he had a higher range back when he was in Emarosa and Agraceful) and there's even hints of a punk aesthetic in the guitars. Unfortunately the hooks in the chorus feel a little wide of the mark to really leave much impact, a shame since it's one of few attempts where the band tries to step outside their comfort zone.

By contrast, the last segment is probably the strongest part of the album mainly because the band returns to what they're good at, starting with the monolithic "Serpent Herders". It has some interesting dynamics inbetween onslaughts of heavy guitars, giving the listener a brief reprieve before pummelling their heads into the ground. "Nothing But Blood" and "Lord Of Bones" similarly sees the return of the hurtling, aggressive sound that worked well at the start of the album, but also the menacing guitars atmospherics. Closing song "My Own Personal Hell" recycles perhaps a few too many ideas from earlier both lyrically and in it's dramatic breakdown, but is a mean number that wraps things up fairly neatly.

"An Eye For An Eye" on the whole is not going to turn any heads outside its target audience, and in many ways the enjoyment to be had is a fairly shallow one if you don't take the aggressive/depressive attitude too seriously. The production and mixing is actually particularly enjoyable - the chunky guitars being sufficiently weighty when they need to be but nimble too where lead guitars are concerned. You always get the feeling that the lyrics are probably too one dimensional ("What I need is for you go fuck yourself" - says it all really) but that's a common complaint with this kind of music, and at least Like Moths To Flames generally stick to their guns - hearts on the sleeves so to speak. That said, fans of the genre should eat this up gladly, even if it is far from perfect it's definitely a solid effort.

Download: The Common Misconception, Nothing But Blood, Lord Of Bones
For the fans of: The Plot In You, Memphis May Fire, Greeley Estates
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Release date 19.03.2013
Rise Records, Nuclear Blast (Europe only)