For Today

Fight The Silence

Written by: PP on 05/02/2014 00:13:20

So here's the thing. For Today's fifth album "Fight The Silence" is a difficult album for a critic to review because it fulfils most criteria for an uninspiring metalcore/melodic hardcore hybrid release. Instrumentally, the record is not much to hurrah for, featuring devastating one chord breakdowns disguised as riffs as the driving force for the majority of the songs. But vocally, this record is incredible, not just for the deeply personal lyrics of vocalist Mattie Montgomery but particularly because of his technical skill as a vocalist and the sheer passion he demonstrates to his work throughout the record.

His scream is extremely varied, ranging from higher end screaming to lower range growls, but no matter what the chosen style, his enunciation is flawless which is one of the key measures between a great and a mediocre screamer/growler in metalcore/melodic hardcore bands. You're able to scream along to all lyrics because you can hear them, which in turn gives them so much more power and energy. I'll go insofar as to suggest he almost single-handedly carries this album together with his supporting clean vocalist Ryan Leitru, so strong is this duo's performance on this record. But that'd be unfair to the rest of the band. Although instrumentation is highly concentrated within the simplistic, repeat-the-same-chord chug-chug breakdowncore variety, at least it is not overtly compressed like is the case with many Rise Records metalcore bands, which is refreshing because it gives the guitars/bass a more punishing feel as they're allowed space to echo a little bit in the soundscape. Moreover, there are the occasional lead melodies that recall both the lingering style used by bands like The Ghost Inside, as well as the dynamic riffs used by bands like As I Lay Dying and Texas In July, for instance. In reality I'm probably overplaying the breakdown element, but then again the band does have songs like "Break The Cycle" which open with catchy screaming like "It's the blind leading the blind leading the blind to their demise" before tearing the pit open with humongous breakdowns and a chant of "BREAK THE CYCLE!!". It's a solid song otherwise, though, so I'll let the criticism slide on this one.

Coming back at the lyrics, one track in particular struck me as awe-inspiring. "Fatherless", which also features the catchiest sing-along clean chorus on the record, has some of those personal lyrics I was talking about earlier:

"I was just another angry kid, growing up without a dad. So I sold my soul for the highest bid to get the love I never had. Tell me who I am (I can't turn for the world for my identity). I can hardly stand (trying to find myself, I can't find myself). Now I come to see, it was never me I was looking for (it was always him, it was always him).

Supported by back-chilling guitar melodies, the song is an instant winner by all counts.

In general, "Fight The Silence" is a solid metalcore album that dabbles just enough with melodic hardcore to make it not sound stagnant like so many other records do in today's metalcore landscape. Yes, it's heavy on the breakdowns, but it also has brilliant vocal work that carry this album a long way, and there are enough killer lead riffs supporting to make a surprisingly strong statement in the genre early on in 2014.

8

Download: Fatherless, Break The Cycle, Molotov, Fight The Silence
For the fans of: The Ghost Inside, It Prevails, Your Memorial, MyChildren MyBride
Listen: Facebook

Release date 04.02.2014
Razor & Tie

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