Review of Diecast - Internal Revolution

Diecast is that band that everyone into metalcore has seen live one or two times but no one has actually ever gone to see - and a record like this is exactly the reason why. Internal Revolution is by all means, one of the most solid offerings of pseudo-Swedish, American metalcore of late, but don’t count on it to convince anyone that Diecast is ready to be heralded as anything other than a very tolerable and proficient opening act for the likes of Unearth or In Flames.

This album is more of what has come to be expected of Diecast and other bands of their ilk. An over-glossed mass of well-balanced American semi-developed thrash riffs that flirt with Scandinavian melody, an equilibrium of mid-ranged screaming to melodic singing, short fits of double bass, huge breakdowns, stadium primed choruses, and a flashing bulls eye nailed to its head that reads ‘oh dear reviewer – be swift and merciful.’ So, without further explanation – let’s get the ‘boring metalcore’ gripes out of the way before anything else.

First off, after the first track it is obvious that anyone who has heard Killswitch Engage’s The End of Heartache has already heard this album note for note. Yes, note for plagiarized note. Second, Paul Stoddard’s lyrics, almost entirely lamenting the dissipation of a single relationship, will become as obnoxious as the ramblings of that broken-hearted fool at the end of the bar - already half a bottle deep into his own woe (there is also a bullshit ode to soldiers, ‘defending freedom,’ abroad to vary it up though). Lastly, it leaves little doubt that the band’s self-professed ‘progression’ to a far more melodic, nu-metalcore sound (sappy piano ballad included) is undoubtedly their bid for more airtime on MTV 2’s “Headbanger’s Ball” and a spot in the iTunes libraries of its younger audience.

Despite all the obvious metalcore clichés begging for a righteous verbal thrashing - the vulnerability is ironically Diecast’s saving grace. Berating this album at length would be like trying to call someone an asshole when they are willing to admit that that is exactly what they are. Totally ineffective. Internal Revolution, for all its flaws, is simply well played and well executed melodic American metalcore - and for that it makes no apologies. The band – of which none of the original members remain - has been an integral part of the same Massachusetts metal scene that has birthed, Killswitch Engage as well as fellow giants All that Remains and Shadows Fall since the late nineties. This incarnation of the band have seen firsthand how it is done and have followed in suit. The Kolaitis / Kita guitar tandem, while plagued with mediocre writing, handle their material with as much expertise and intensity as any of the twin axmen of their aforementioned peers and even mange to summon an impressive thrash riff here and there. The production sounds as sterile and full as is to be expected from a band trying its very best to make bank on crossover appeal. Stoddard certainly has a firm grasp on the sing / scream dynamic, he keeps both at a roughly even fifty percent - simultaneously keeping intact the band’s tough guy credibility while relying more and more on his very standard hard rock croon to up the commercial appeal.

Overall, if this style of melodic metalcore is your mosh of choice – by all means – get into it. If you’ve heard this style of music before and have little tolerance for shameless redundancy, forget about even giving it a chance. Diecast certainly know what they’re doing and seem to be happy in that role. However – at this rate expect them to be closing their sets with – ‘we’re Diecast from Boston…thanks for coming early,’ for a long, long time.

Release Details

Diecast

Internal Revolution

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