Last Perfection
Drawing Conclusions
7.7
You’ll never guess what we have in store for you today? That’s right, metalcore! Today’s subjects come to us from that haven of classic hardcore, New York City. And like much of what gets lumped under the all-encompassing “metalcore” title, what is really delivered is melodic death metal, with a few breakdowns and some hardcore-styled vocals. And they play it pretty damn well.
A thick, scathing production makes this album come across as a little heavier and more intense than it might really be, which is always welcomed in my household. While I’m not sure of the age of the band, they look pretty young, which makes their grasp of structure and musical ability that much more commendable. Well-developed, duel melodic leads are all over, and the riff-to-riff transitions sound natural. The rhythm guitar lines are generally chunky near-breakdowns. Vocally, they are just as interesting. James’ typical singing voice sounds like a gruff Jamey Jasta (Hatebreed), occasionally shifting to a raspy shout, like that of Jesse Leach (Killswitch Engage’s original vocalist). Chris’ drumming style is a little unorthodox to my ears, but conforms perfectly to their sound.
The most immediate track fittingly opens the album…after the obligatory minute-long intro. “Everyone Is a Poet” works well because the band is exceeding their natural speed limit, at least for the first 30 seconds, which is enough to draw you in. The rest reminds me of the newer Unearth material, in that it’s heavy, but with a definite new focus on melody. Most of the rest of the album follows in that general direction, with heavier sections that evoke bands like Dead to Fall and The Mandrake, occasional mosh riffs, and noodling sections that betray a strong Iron Maiden/In Flames influence.
For a debut album, Drawing Conclusion is quite promising, even if it doesn’t do too much to stand out from the pack. As to where they fit in the whole US metalcore scheme of things, if you love heapings of melody, but just can’t live without a few token breakdowns, this is the band for you. Nice work, rookies.
