Solid State

Solid State

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
The gleefully subversive and energetic Liquid Todd, a techno pioneer and host of the renowned New York-based radio show Solid State, has finally released a mix that spiritually delivers his airwave performances. Energetic, brisk, and bristling with clever nuances, Todd joyfully fuses fat, sleazy funk-hop (Freq Nasty's "That's My Style") with pumping trance monsters (Oss's "Butterfly") and still finds room to throw in some disco-tinged, psychedelic grooves (Mint Royale's "Shake Me (The Light Remix)"). A real Saturday-night wall-shaker, Solid State combines the energy of a raging techno club with the freedom of a nudist colony. Spin this and the house will, indeed, be rocking. --Steffan Chirazi

Tracks:

The Truth Of a Liar
Up Against the Ropes
Back Burner
The Blinding Light
Composure
Vital Signs
The Eleventh Hour
The Balance
Black Sheep
An American Dream
Redemption

Customer Reviews:

Brutal, however............2007-07-12

Let's start with the positives. The production is terrific, everything sounds crystal clear. This is undoubtedly one of the heaviest albums I've heard to date. The technicality of the guitars and drums is very tight and solid.

Now to the not-so-good. I have to agree with a previous review that states that every single breakdown sounds the same. It's like they wrote 1 breakdown...then changed it by 1 note and used it 11 times. The china is way over used....it's like the drummer thinks he needs to signal to the audience when the breakdowns begin and end. "Well this is the breakdown so i HAVE to use my china..." I don't mean to bad mouth anybody, he's a very talented drummer, but lacks some variety when it comes to writing breakdown beats. I also have to agree with the fact that many of the guitar riffs utilize the same key in every song, resulting in many guitar parts sounding similar. Finally, while the new vocalist is an improvement over the last because of his good range, the vocal patterns can sound thrown together at times.

Overall, like I said...very brutal, but the songs truly lack a lot of individuality and distinction. Maybe that's what they were going for...? Maybe a lot of the hardcore fans do indeed have the "i don't care if it has variety, melody, or harmony, as long as it's heavy" attitude. To each his own I suppose.

sigh.......2007-07-12

ok i never got into their first cd.

this one however has a lot more technical riffs, its a lot cleaner and good production.

HOWEVER, the one thing why i dont like this cd. is the drummer. he's good but her does the same thing during EVERY breakdown. always use his china constantly. i didnt find one breakdown that didnt sound similar cuz their drummer.

and becasue of that, this cd is crappy

Unbelievable........2007-06-27

First things first, don't listen to the people that have given this album a bad review. ABR has matured so much from thrill seeker.

The music is so much tighter; the new singer, Jake Luhrs, is amazing. His range is good and uses a few different screams, all in good taste.

The breakdowns are way more brutal than any of the ones on thrill seeker; they have a different feel that's more technical. The lyrics are well written and composed by the entire band opposed to just Josh McManness writing them all as they were on T.S.

The song by song review written by "Josh Cunningham" on 6/21 is very accurate so I will spare the repetition. However, I would personally rate track 8 "The Balance" a 10/10. The breakdown at the end is sick.

So if you liked Thrill Seeker, but you're looking for something more, pick up Messengers. It will blow your mind, these guys are extremely talented and have come a long way.

abr's best to date.......2007-06-23

whoever says this album sold out or isn't as good as thill seeker needs a hearing check. The songs are less prog, but still heavy as hell, and full of sick breakdowns. Black sheep is amazing. thats all there is to it. the part "too late to wake, too late to wake, too late to wake!!" gives me chills on my chills. all songs are sick. great christian prog-metalcore. the best out there. ignore all the numwits who say anything negative about this album. pick it up!!!!:p

Great follow up.......2007-06-22

ABR's latest is no disappointment and reminds us metalcore is still here and making progress. In my opinion this album is more brutal than the last, and the new vocalist does prove to be more versatile. Every track sounds great, you can read some of the other reviews here for better descriptions; this is one you can listen to straight though. Not to mention, these guys are from my hometown, so it's amazing to see them getting this kind of recognition.

Average customer rating:

different
If you're here, you're getting it..
The Physics of Fire - Best Metal Album in Recent Years
Song writing and vocals take a step backwards
Bringing it with fire!

The Physics of Fire
Becoming the Archetype
Manufacturer: Solid State Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Terminate Damnation
Messengers
The Fiancee
Rival Factions
Saints

ASIN: B000OYC7IU
Release Date: 2007-05-08

Tracks:

Epoch Of War
Immolation
Autopsy
The Great Fall
Nocturne
The Monolith
Construct And Collapse
Endure
Fire Made Flesh
Second Death
The Balance Of Eternity

Customer Reviews:

different.......2007-07-12

the guitar is decently heavy and really good, but as soon as you start getting into it, they stop and play some retarted pan flute keyboard thing. the vocals are pretty good, except for the actual singing, which is totally out of place. i have nothing against actual singing in the choruses and such, but come on. that is just annoying. don't think i'm some loser who only likes metal because he thinks he's hardcore and listens to slipknot and stuff like a lot of posers do, but i cannot deal with the random whimpy keyboard in every single song. hey becoming the archetype, take all the keyboard stuff, put it one song, call that song a "ballad" and put it as the last song on the album and you would be one of my favorite bands. instead i barely listen to you guys. i gave this 4 stars because of the couple good songs on it and the guitar is really good, but i still wouldn't buy it. i'm gonna get their first album cuz a lot of bands have a better 1st album than 2nd and i'm not gonna lie, i do like the guitar, but the keyboard stuff is just out of place and annoying.

If you're here, you're getting it.........2007-06-30

I really hate reviews... Music is subjective in itself, so to offer a review is not much more than talking to people that have similar interests... with that being said...

This is really good stuff, I mean really good. The production quality is excellent and the substance in this music must be heard to be appreciated. I didn't get to this place in music easily and can certainly understand people that don't "get" this style / sound, but if you do, you are in for a treat.

As the first song opens with a snobbish little hammered dulcimer bit that builds with some grove and then just flat out assaults the listener with technical, massive blasts that demand as much from your volume knob as can be tolerated.

This band breaks away from the norm and gets you to another place.

The Physics of Fire - Best Metal Album in Recent Years.......2007-05-21

Since their first release, "Terminate Damnation", Becoming the Archetype has by far become one of my favorite metal bands of all time. I listened to the first album so much that I know all of the lyrics to every song, and have never really looked at a lyrics cheat-sheet. So, needless to say, when BTA announced the new CD I was excited. All I could really see happening when the lineup change was announced was something good, especially after I listened to some of Aletheian's stuff (the band which Alex Kenis also plays with).

The first thing I can say is that this album is a lot different from the first. While the first seemed to sort of carry on in the same death-metalcore style previous trekked out by legendary band Living Sacrifice, this CD definately heads in a more progressive direction. All I can say is that the lineup change with adding Kenis in on lead guitar made them go where few (American) Christian metal bands have gone in recent years. While the last album was somewhat lacking in technically challenging lead guitar parts, The Physics of Fire is chock-full of guitar solos and licks that would make any lover of Steve Vai, Rusty Cooley, or John Petrucci cry.

I can also say that the mixing and production quality on the CD is a step up from the first. Terminate Damnation's mixing and whatnot, while excellent, was done in more of a style that suits metalcore bands such as As I Lay Dying and August Burns Red, while The Physics of Fire's mix and production reaks of Opeth and Scar Symmetry-esque dynamics.

Another thing to note about this album is something not seen very often - it's a concept album, which I believe adds greatly to the value and integrity of the music. Every single song on the CD intertwine with each other to tell an epic story, with 4 of the songs creating the 4 part "The Physics of Fire" Suite.

I'd also rate this album high on playability...This CD has dominated my mp3 player, my Winamp playlists, and my car stereo ever since i picked it up on release date.

Go out, get this album, and prepare for the horns to be upped instantly.

Song writing and vocals take a step backwards.......2007-05-20

I've just gotten this album after absolutely loving Terminate Damnation and I'm really struggling to listen to it to the end. The two changes in band members have really had an influence on this work, especially the leads.

What I really liked about the 1st album seems to have disappeared. The vocal variety has pretty much gone with Jason pretty much belting out an angry shout more akin to Hardcore/Metalcore bands. There are no low growls (like in "one man parade" and "elegy"), no high pitched shreaks like in the opening to Elegy and through it. His main vocal style remains unchanged but with fewer changes in pitch, less growls etc. Even the vocal mixing is different, lacking the richness and depth of Terminate Damnation. Vocals are now rather flat and one dimensional with little overlaying of low and high together.

I normally love clean vocals (the new Dark Tranquility album - fiction is brilliant with Mikael Stanne's vocals haunting beautiful) but Alex Kenis's vocals sound weak and fluffy, syrupy sweet. Please either find a strong singer or forget the clean vocals.

The production seems muddied compared to the crisp, clean production style of the last album. The symbols are not as crisp and sharp as TD with guitars sounding hollower and flat.

Alex Kenis tries hard with his leads but honestly, they all sound pretty much the same with too much fretboard gymnastics and little feeling. Far too much hammering and not enough pinching or plucking, no wa wa pedals, with the tone sounding too soft (to cover up the sounds of his hands moving on the strings?) and never changing. Compared to TD (Terminate Damnation) leads (No Fall Too Far- lovely use of wa wa pedal and great feeling, Ex Nihilo - fits the rhythmn perfectly but not long enough :-), Into Oblivion - the acoustic lead is a thing of beauty) nothing comes close to them on POF. Unimaginative and repetitive....repetitive....have a said that before?

I really miss the style of songwriting of TD. This new album just doesn't have the slower, heavier mix of the old one or the change of tempo's. POF is overall faster without the brilliance of TD, no outstanding track like Elegy. Nocturne is the instrumental on POF, which is nice with guitar and piano but not as well written or absorbing as "Night's Sorrow" or "Denouement" and more repetitive than them both.

I really was excited when I heard BTA had a new album out but I confess I was worried when I heard about the band changes. It happens all the time, band gets new members and sounds different. This road is well worn with BTA packing their bags and now making the journey of change, evolving into something i'm not sure I like.

Well cya fellas. When you find out that the grass isn't greener on the other side and you miss home, i'll be here waiting.

Bringing it with fire!.......2007-05-16

Fire is an apt way to describe this album, 'cause it smokes. Losing two members and adding one (Alex from Aletheian, and we know he can be technical) hasn't taken away from this groups sound at all, it's as heavy and as technical as ever. The album opens by easing you into it with a little instumental softness then the pummeling ensues at full force. The first song especially reminds me of something a Communic or Scar Symmetry might do at their heaviest and has a melodic death metal feel that the album never quite reaches again. If you liked the last one you should really dig into this and discover the greatness it holds. The one thing holding it back is falling into some metalcore boringness at times and the clean singer does not do a very good job. Other then that it is a sonic brain cleaning that brings the metal and the lyrics are very Biblically focused again. BTA is bringing the metal and showing that christians can be as loud and as technical as any band out there.

Average customer rating:

Not for the faint of heart
Good hardcore band
Nothing Unfinished
Gorgeous Record (Top of the Line Chariot)
A Solid Chaotic Metalcore Release

The Fiancee
The Chariot
Manufacturer: Solid State
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Messengers
Pressure the Hinges
Waking Giants
The Physics of Fire
The Lost the Sick the Sacred

ASIN: B000NJL50M
Release Date: 2007-04-03

Tracks:

Back To Back
They Faced Each Other
They Drew Their Swords
And Shot Each Other
The Deaf Policemen
Heard This Noise
Then Came To Kill
The Two Dead Boys
Forgive Me Nashville
The Trumpet

Customer Reviews:

Not for the faint of heart.......2007-07-03

This is mathcore at it's finest. Amazing melodies interrupted and warped into other melodies, insane guitar riffs, dark lyrics and even a combination of a choir (who's track I enjoy thoroughly as well) into the album. This is not for someone who doesn't enjoy hard, fast alternative metal, however. I enjoy Josh Scogin on the 2 older Norma Jean albums as well as all of the albums the Chariot has come out with. This is just the evolution of his sound. If you like hardcore, try this out.

Good hardcore band.......2007-06-22

These guys rock.
Buy all their albums.
Go to every show you can.
I will
Automatic 1 point reduction for picking the wrong religion

Nothing Unfinished.......2007-06-21

I just read a review by Rick and I have to say Im outraged. Every single one of these songs had a building and a closing. I was never left unsatisfied. "The Trumpet" was not out of place, not only was it in the back ground of other songs, but they are also a Christian band. Every song is about God. So tell me that song is out of place. Its not like all other songs on the cd, but if every song was the same, why would I want to listen to it? This was a good following to their "Unsung" release. Not in comparison, but it still let me know why I love the Chariot.

Another huge mistake Rick made was calling them "noise." They are a hardcore Christian band. Plain and simple. Every song on their albums are related with God. If you don't want every song about God, then I suggest Norma Jean. Which used to be, Norma Jean and The Chariot one in the same. If you are going to review, realize that if you want noise then stick to your guns of knowing Sonic Youth and Hella. Otherwise, stay off.

Gorgeous Record (Top of the Line Chariot).......2007-05-29

At first listen, you will not be happy overall if you have listened to the Unsung EP. Eventually, you will realize how great of an album this is. This is a perfect hard album all the way through. Each song leads into the other and each has its own beauty.

Best Chariot release thus far.

A Solid Chaotic Metalcore Release.......2007-05-09

The sophomore release by The Chariot is, like all their other releases, heavily dissonant, full of raw, distorted vocals, and really just a huge, loud blast of sound. Whether or not that sounds appealing to you is really what decides whether you like the album--abrupt tempo changes aren't for everyone, and for many this album will take a lot of getting used to.

This time The Chariot has a little more polish than in previous releases, yet somehow the previous intensity and `raw'-ness remains. There might be clean vocals in "Then Came to Kill" (a remake of "Play the Piano Like a Disease" from the Unsung EP), along with a synth-strings part, but this doesn't make the song any less extreme. Likewise, the sudden harmonica interlude at the end of "Forgive Me, Nashville" gives the track more of a chaotic feel, not less of one. This polish combines with The Chariot's already brutal sound and Josh Scogin's maturing vocals to form a great release.

Nonetheless, the album has its flaws. "The Trumpet," for example, is obvious filler, with a choir singing a hymn of sorts that doesn't really mesh with the album at all. (This is in stark contrast with "And Shot Each Other," in which the choir blends artfully into the rest of the song.) In addition, at points the album seems downright uncreative, especially with the track endings. (Remember "The Company, the Comfort, the Grave," with the ending where Scogin screams, "This pistol is my ministry"? It's back, albeit with different lyrics, for three or four of the songs on the album. Really, it was better the first time.)

Despite any letdowns, this release is great evidence that The Chariot is maturing as a band. The songs have one excellent riff after the other, with not a stinker among them (excepting "The Trumpet").

Average customer rating:

Amazing Listen
Sounds OK...
-thumbs up-
I don't get it...
Underoath: They're Only Chasing Safety

They're Only Chasing Safety
Underoath
Manufacturer: Solid State Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Emo | Hardcore & Punk | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

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The Changing of Times
Define the Great Line (CD & DVD)
Define the Great Line
Let It Enfold You
The Question

ASIN: B00026WVC2
Release Date: 2004-06-15

Tracks:

Young and Aspiring
A Boy Brushed Red...Living in Black and White
The Impact of Reason
Reinventing Your Exit
The Blue Note
It's Dangerous Business Walking Out Your Front Door
Down, Set, Go
I Don't Feel Very Receptive Today
I'm Content With Losing
Some Will Seek Forgiveness, Others Escape

Album Description

Underoath's potential was truly tapped upon entering the studio with James Wisner (Dashboard Confessional, Further Seems Forever) to create their third studio release, "They're Only Chasing Safety," dropping June 15, 2004. The new vocals meld into what Underoath has been evolving to become for years: a cleaner, more direct heavy rock style avoiding any hardcore clichis they might have previously garnered. And with their innovative keyboard / electronic heavy base for the dynamic 10 song release, it's hard to imagine anyone penning Underoath with clichis at all. Still, fans of the previously metal-driven band may be in for a shock as catchy choruses and hooks dominate this release.

"If hardcore kids want to like us, that's awesome," McTague elaborates, "but we're not trying to impress them. And as far as kids saying we've sold out...kids like that just like to talk. They might be weirded out at first [by the new album], but hopefully it will catch on, but if not, who cares, you know?"

There's no doubt with infectious choruses on stand-out tracks like "Reinventing Your Exit," and "80's Song" along with the pure magnitude and passion of each track, that the songs will, in fact, catch on regardless of where the band's concerns lie. Still Underoath remains apathetic toward critics and will keep concentrating on what they know best: writing songs they like and playing shows relentlessly because that's what they love doing.

"Everyone is all about making things more marketable, receivable, accessible, and in turn have watered down everything from their faith to their struggles in life, and I think people need to start being real," McTague concludes. "Our goal is to write an album that changes music and impacts people in a huge way. I think we might start something with this record, but I think there is a lot more to uncover in the future...this is by far the closest we have ever come to that though."

Customer Reviews:

Amazing Listen.......2007-06-17

I had never heard of Underoath and wasn't familiar with the hardcore scene. I heard Underoath in an interview on MTV and thought their screaming-metal sound was interesting. I decided to buy this CD as well as Define the Great Line. I have been listening to it for six months and I'm absolutely blown away. I love the contrast between light and darkness (sort of like pieces of Heaven and Hell). This is perhaps best exhibited on "It's Dangerous Business Walking Out Your Front Door" which has big, swirling guitars over a screaming verse interspersed with an eerie choir section. It's the best song on the album. "Reinventing Your Exit" is another standout, fearturing easy singing mixed with this ferocious screaming hookline ("Right now we're just looking for the exit"). I like the manic intensity-you can practically feel the lead vocalist's rage as he roars "This is my panic/This is my call to arms". It's true: this is not metal. I listen mostly to metal but I still like this. Give it a shot. If you like what you hear, check out Define the Great Line (the latter is a much darker heavy metal album).

Sounds OK..........2007-03-02

The cd is good, but I get irritated with the song "boy brushed in red", tell me if I am wrong, but I think it sounds as if it is Taking Back Sunday. Thats way I am rating this CD 4 stars, the songs sound good. I would much rather recomend this CD, over Define the Great Line. This album is pretty well made and has nice pseodo break downs, nothing new in this time, but they sound good though!

-thumbs up-.......2007-02-22

This album isn't quite as screamy (for lack of a better word) as I'd like it to be, and it all kinda sounds alike, but it's pretty decent.

I don't get it..........2007-02-08

I don't get it. I don't understand what a lot of their lyrics are really about; maybe I'm just too old to get it. What I do get, however, is that this is a great CD. I bought this CD a few years ago after hearing "Reinventing Your Exit" on a Christian rock station. The first few times I heard the song, I hated it, but it grew on me. I listened to the whole CD and, at first, lamented my decision to buy it. I gave it a few more chances, and started to like it.

I think what makes it a difficult sell at first is all the odd breaks and synth fills. They don't seem to really fit at first, but once I got the overall idea of their music, those breaks and fills started to work.

Their drummer is probably the brightest point in the group. Not only does he sing most of the more melodic vocals, but his drum riffs and fills are aggressive, precise, and just plain brilliant. Even if you already have and like this CD, take the time to go back and just listen to the drums. There are certain drum fills that are likely just synth loops, but if you pay close attention to the drummer himself, you're likely to hear a few things you may have missed.

The lead singer (screamer may be a better term) has a young, brash, angry snarl that almost goes over the top at times, yet works very well as a counterpoint to the drummer's singing. The back and forth of the two singing styles helps to introduce two moods to most of their songs. The drummer's voice brings a bit of a melancholy, apologetic, almost sweet feeling to the songs. The lead singer's voice is full of anger and frustration. The two together give me an impression of someone who at first is sweet and forgiving, but after taking too much BS, finally lashes out.

A perfect example of their complementing each other is found on the song "It's Dangerous Business Walking Out Your Front Door". Some of the drummer's singing is eerie and has a dreamlike quality as though he is passively viewing himself "drowning in his sleep". The lead singer's voice offers a contrast to the drummer's in that we feel his panic and pain. Sadly, the snippet here on Amazon does that song no justice whatsoever.

The guitarists for the most part aren't flashy. They don't play leads, and don't riff all over the songs. They are however, very solid, and melodic, and their playing is perfect for the music.

About the only low point for me concerning this album is the track "Blue Note". I REALLY don't get that... doesn't feel like it fits the album, and is far too short in my opinion to be given it's own track listing. I suppose it was meant as sort of an intermission, as it appears near the middle of the CD, but if anything, that momentary pause from the meat and potatoes of the album takes away more than it adds.

Bottom line, if you want to hear something aggressive, yet musically creative and stylistically diverse, these guys are worth a listen. Just remember to give them a few chances before you give up on them. This album really does take some time to grow on you.

Underoath: They're Only Chasing Safety.......2007-01-22

Underoath Rules!!! The tracks on the Cd are amazing.

Average customer rating:

Great album
As Cities Burn pushes the boundaries of post-hardcore
wow
Decent
Great Debut.

Son, I Loved You at Your Darkest
As Cities Burn
Manufacturer: Solid State Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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When Everything Falls
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I Am Hollywood

ASIN: B0009ML1PW
Release Date: 2005-06-21

Tracks:

Thus From My Lips, By Yours, My Sin Is Purged
Love Jealous One, Love
Incomplete Is A Leech
Bloodsucker Pt. II
Terrible! How Terrible For The Great City!
The Widow
Wake Dead Man, Wake
Admission:Regret
One:Twentyseven
Of Want And Misery:The Nothing That Kills

Customer Reviews:

Great album.......2007-05-07

This album rocked, when i had heard the songs seperately I wasn't terribly impressed. Though once you put them all in the order on the album, it projects such and incredible message. The vocals have some serious range, though I was sad to hear that they had to find a new vocalist. In conclution, even though I didn't give too many points to back my oppionion, this album rocked, I would recommend it to anyone who love screamo music!

As Cities Burn pushes the boundaries of post-hardcore.......2007-04-28

With their debut full-length, As Cities Burn goes places most hardcore bands don't dare explore. From the tempo changes, as unpredictable and jarring as you'll find in the heaviest of mathcore bands, to the quiet, beautifully sung sections that appear in literally every song on the album, I guarantee that this album will give you something new, something you didn't expect.

The album starts out with the desperate sound of "Thus from My Lips, By Yours, My Sin Is Purged". You'll have trouble figuring out what time signature it is--or time signatures, I should say--but you'll have no trouble figuring out what they're talking about. This is abject need for change, one of the strongest expressions of emotions I've heard on any album, as the vocalist screams about a longing to get away from his own sinful frailty--"I keep stepping in and out of the shadow/Caught by the drift and pitch..." The track winds down to mellower singing, quiet but not quite peaceful: "Oh, how sweet the sound. I once was blind, but now--I just look away!" Again, it comes in, with the same strong pulse, only to finally drop to a more optimistic, and peaceful, end.

Don't relax too much, though. The next track, "Love Jealous One, Love", starts in a few seconds, with amazingly even more intensity than the last track. It has the same desperate sense of remorse that the first track did, as well, beginning, "This is me at my darkest!" So the album continues, sometimes slower but never less emotional, with highlights including "Terrible! How terrible for the great city!" which criticizes our culture's obsession with lust over true love with rare honesty and precision. "The Widow," a ballad about the vocalist's father who walked out on his mother, is simply beautiful, eschewing screams for a beautifully melodic reminder about the meaning of grace.

The album ends on a fitting note, with the six-and-a-half-minute epic "Of Want and Misery." Here the album's feeling of anger and depression gives way to hope, and is all the more beautiful for it. While the song has the same technical guitar riffs and solid drum sections, a steady piano section complements the song. The song's beautifully sung ending closes the album perfectly:
"I like to think that this is love.../second chances, without end."

wow.......2007-03-17

Took my breath away the first time I heard this cd (which was today). I've decided to write a review while it's still novel. Most would put these guys with Underoath (Christian hardcore), but they are a lot better. The lyrics are well crafted, and though they have religious undertones it still can have multiple interpretations. The best part of the band is the guitar playing which reminds me of early Hopesfall/Further Seems Forever (well layered). It's not that the music is full of technical impressive playing, it's melodic, and at times beautifully chaotic.

Decent.......2006-08-27

This CD is decent. It doesn't overly excite me but it inst bad either. A well rounded, decent disc.

Great Debut........2006-07-24

We can expect one more CD from this amazingly talented band, before they break up officially. They will start writing the CD this fall.

From the scream at the beginning of this amazing 10 track cd, it was clear, that this was going to be an awesome cd. And they are such poetic song writers, it's hard not to be blown away by the lyrics alone, but their melodic guitars, and their truly talented drummer, and the singer is amazing too.

Their crafty, and original material set them apart from these metalcore bands of today, who are pretty much the same exact reincarnations of each other. Their unique vocal styles, and the poem-like lyrics, leave you begging for more.

I was so amazed at the music, that I immediatly started it back up, and listened to it 5 more times. Definatly a must have from a band that's not going to be around much longer.

Personal Picks-

Incomplete Is A Leech.
Wake, Dead Man, Wake.
The Widow.
Admission:Regret
Bloodsucker:PT II.
Terrible! How terrible for the Great City

Average customer rating:

do NOT buy the special edition!!!
The best release I have ever heard in my life
Genre-Blurring Alt/Metal/Emo
A work of art
Not bad, but not the greatest album

Define the Great Line (CD & DVD)
Underoath
Manufacturer: Solid State Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

Post Hardcore | Hardcore & Punk | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

Christian Rock | Christian & Gospel | Styles | Music

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Similar Items:

They're Only Chasing Safety
A City by the Light Divided
Redeemer
The Changing of Times
They're Only Chasing Safety

ASIN: B000FMGWE6
Release Date: 2006-06-20

Tracks:

In Regards To Myself
A Moment Suspended In Time
There Could Be Nothing After This
Ever So Inviting
Salmarnir
Returning Empty Handed
Casting Such A Thin Shadow
Moving for the Sake of Motion
Writing On The Walls
Everyone Looks So Good From Here
To Whom It May Concern

Tracks:

Behind the Scenes studio footage for the recording process of Define The Great Line (DVD)
On Location footage in Death Valley for the making of Define The Great Line artwork (DVD)

Album Description

Underoath have single-handedly given hope to a genre ripe with rip-offs, carbon copies, and flavor of the week musical acts. "Define the Great Line" further establishes Underoath as one of the most important and influential bands in rock music today.

LIMITED EDITION includes special 8-panel digi-pak with booklet, exclusive artwork, and Bonus DVD with behind the scenes, in the studio, and making of the album features.

Customer Reviews:

do NOT buy the special edition!!!.......2007-07-04

Its a great cd! Don't get me wrong.
The dvd is a complete ripoff, though! The DVD contains brief (I mean brief!) overview of the photo shoot, some crappy home videos of the band in the studio with that annoying Killswitch guy, and a random (and long) video of some old man talking about UFOs. The DVD is a waste of money and only used as exuse for Tooth And Nail tack on an extra five bucks!
I think the special edition includes extended album art. But I found it to be fairly creepy. So...
Do yourself a favor and buy the regular cd. DONT BUY THE SPECIAL EDITION!

The best release I have ever heard in my life.......2007-06-06

This was probably one of the most unexpected releases that I have ever gotten my hands on. I was a casual fan of Underoath's old album "They're only chasing Safety" and when this cd came out I decided to get my hands on it. I first bought the regular edition.

As soon as I started listening, I could tell that I was in for a much heavier experience. The first track "In Regards To Myself" sets in brutally with mathcore-like guitar techniques very reminiscent of Norma Jean's "O God The Aftermath" ie. the dissonant chords and very progressive beats, the song then launches into a dark, yet melodic chorus. The disc then follows on with "A Moment Suspended In Time", a track that showcases Underoath's emo roots while keeping a metal edge to it. A very beautiful chorus where clean vocals and Spencer's screams alter in a very effective manner.
The disc then leads on with, in my opinion, the two worst tracks of the album ("Salmarnir though, cannot be judged as it is merely an interlude).

However, Underoath's power really kicks in after this interlude. Indeed, "Returning Empty Handed" kicks off in a dark, epic manner and then leads into some of the most challenging beats that Aaron has ever performed. All of this backed up by Tim's use of dissonant chords and Spencer's relentless screams. The song then slows down and finishes in a beautiful melodic ending while still keeping challenging beats going.
This then fades into the most epic track ever written by Underoath "Casting Such A Thin Shadow" where a dark instrumental intro filled with original melodies and guitar techniques sets the listener into a relaxed mood before the band strikes again with a brutal, yet melodic outro.
The next two tracks are typical Underoath tracks with extra heaviness and a greater mathhcore influence, two great tracks.

The disc then leads into the most brutal track written by Underoath "Everyone Looks So Good From Here", a track which is so heavy it could have been written by Norma Jean. Here Spencer delivers some of the best vocal performance in recent metal releases while Aaron is still giving up some of the most technical beats I have heard, an amazing track.

Lastly, Underoath finish up with one of their greatest, most epic tracks ever, where Aaron performs an irrgular beat where the hi-hat is played in a different timing. The clean vocals are very well performed in the start of this song. Then, the band kicks off into a brutal outro where the whole band delivers one of their best performances ever recorded; a great track to close this epic release.

Having the special edition only increases the beauty of the disc with its amazing artwork. However, the dvd was somewhat short and not really worth the extra money, however, the extra artwork saves the special edition.

All in all this is a cd that set a new standard for metalcore, emo-core and any other ambient metal band. The best release of 2006 by 100 miles!

Pierre Schifflers

Genre-Blurring Alt/Metal/Emo.......2007-03-09

This album was an interesting listen for me; a band which I first dismissed, but after listening a bit longer found quite interesting and unusual. Underoath play a style of alternative metal often referred to as "screamo", but on this album (I am unfamiliar with their earlier work) they exhibit a sense of experimentation an willingness to blur genre lines as well as an artistic and progressive bent. Elements of emo, metalcore, and the post-rock style of such bands as Isis or Mastodon are run through a blender on this album, and it actually sounds very original when reassembled by this band. The lyrical content and conceptual art style of the accompanying CD booklet are also very well done....supposedly this band is a Christian rock band, but if so, they are lyrically obtuse enough to avoid the "Jesus-is-my-pal" corniness of many of the other bands in that sub genre. Cool stuff, if you like unusual rock/metal music.

A work of art.......2007-03-09

One of the best albums of 2006. It's garnered enough praise from enough sources so I won't waste anyone's time with a lengthy review. Just wanted to say that this album is absolutely stellar.

Key tracks: In Regards to Myself, A Moment Suspended in Time, You're Ever So Inviting, Moving for the Sake of Motion, The Writing on the Walls

Not bad, but not the greatest album.......2007-03-02

I own this cd and I think the best song in the album is "In Regards To Myself Listen Listen", the first track, after that the other songs sound the same. Its harder than their past material, and I am not talking of "acts of depression" and "cries of the past" obviously. The pseudo break downs sound cool, but they get overdone, which make the songs sound very boring after awhile. I do not hate Underoath its just this CD, is really not as great as I imagined, and I think I am not the only one that thinks this about this cd. If you have ever heard of Norma Jean's most recent albums and Taking Back, this is how underoath sounds in this album. BAD!!! I just hope their next album, if there is going to be one, is way better than this one!

Average customer rating:

Haste the f...in day
Listen to this
An amazing Debut
Sickkkkk
debut album...

Burning Bridges
Haste the Day
Manufacturer: Solid State Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

Christian Rock | Christian & Gospel | Styles | Music

Christian Alternative | Christian & Gospel | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Alternative Metal | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music

General | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

When Everything Falls
Pressure the Hinges
Son, I Loved You at Your Darkest
Thrill Seeker
Of Love and Lunacy

ASIN: B0001FGBUM
Release Date: 2004-03-09

Tracks:

Blue
Closest Thing To Closure
American Love
Concerning The Way It Was
Song Of Faith
Ros King
One Life To Live
The Last Goodbye
An Honest Confession
Substance
Breaking My Own Heart
Outro

Customer Reviews:

Haste the f...in day.......2006-10-21

boy this is one of the best hardcore metal bands around, I just found out about them on this years Headbangers ball c.d. and I love their c.d.'s. I can't wait for more stuff by them in the future even though Jimmy Ryan is gone. Awesome stuff if you're into as I lay dying, from autumn to ashes, Ligeia etc... rock on.

Listen to this.......2006-06-17

You must listen to this if you are into metal, hardcore, or music of that nature. The vocals are amazing and guitars are excellente. The drums will pound your ears off. This is some of the hardest metal around and it's got a good message. I think this is a little better than When Everything Falls but they're both about equal. You should check out all of HTD's material and look for them in the future.

An amazing Debut.......2006-04-21

When Haste the Day released they're Solid State Debut Burning Bridges, alot of people compared them to Zao, and being a die hard fan of Zao i had to get it. Really i dont hear that much of Zao in their music to tell the truth, Jimmy's screams are really the only thing even kinda similar! But other than that this album, heck this band is amazing!! everything from the music, with killer guitar work, catchy melodies, hard drums, and great breakdowns, everything is in place! the vocals are great as mentioned with Jimmy's screams then add the clean vocals in places which add so much to this band! and you have this amazing album! there isnt a song i skip, but my favs are (Blue 42 (killer bass lines) American Love, Song of Faith, The Last Goodbye, Substance, and Breaking My Own Heart). if you love hardcore get this album its simply amazing!!!

Sickkkkk.......2006-04-14

This cd kicks so much ass, it is better than there newer album "When Everything Falls". This cd has great breakdowns, sick vocals and great guitarwork. It has good singing too, which adds to the band. Get this if you want good metalcore/hardcore with some insane vox and some good solid singing. Oh and the breakdowns too, sickkkk.

debut album..........2006-03-25

this was haste the day's debut album a couple years later after their release of That They May Know You. this will most likely be the album that will get haste the day known to the masses. and this time it will five times as hard as their ep. this album has many breakdowns, crazy music on the instrument part, as well as jimmy, devin, and brennan's vocals kicking in. mostly Jimmy's of course. this album is a must.

Average customer rating:

What is this?!
veering toward mainstream rock
Good hardcore band
Scary
Not That Good

Redeemer
Norma Jean
Manufacturer: Solid State Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

Post Hardcore | Hardcore & Punk | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

General | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Bless the Martyr and Kiss the Child
O God, The Aftermath
Crisis
Suck out the Poison
Define the Great Line (CD & DVD)

ASIN: B000H4JH3U
Release Date: 2006-09-12

Tracks:

A grand scene for a color film
Blueprints for future homes
A small spark vs. a great forest
A temperamental widower
The end of all things will be televised
Songs sound much sadder
The longest lasting statement
Amnesty please
Like swimming circles
Cemetery like a stage
No passenger : no parasite

Customer Reviews:

What is this?!.......2007-07-12

I am a big fan of the Luti-Kriss album Throwing Myself, and Norma Jean's first album Bless the Martyr and Kiss the Child. And O God the Aftermath was not as good, but I enjoyed it for what it was. But after listening to Redeemer, I asked myself "is this the band that recorded Bless the Martyr?!" Different does not always equal bad, sometimes it equals better(Underoath for example), but in this case, different does equal good or better (in my opinion). At least when it comes to the route Norma Jean has taken with this album.
This album can hardly be called metal or metalcore. The instrumentals are simply not as heavy as before. And the vocals...the only thing I could say when I heard the vocals in this album was "what the f*ck?". The vocals in O God were not as good as Josh Scogin's in the previous album, but they were acceptable according to my taste. But I cannot stand the vocals on this album. It sounds like the singer is trying to puke out a bad meal he ate.
All in all, I was not really into this album. But I still consider myself a Norma Jean fan, and hope for the best when their next album comes out. The band has changed in some way with every album. Maybe I'll like the next change they'll make.
I recommend the new Haste the Day album over this, but that's just my opinion.

veering toward mainstream rock.......2007-06-23

This recording reduced the qualities in Norma Jean that I felt defined them: odd time sigs and dissonance. This recording seemed like an effort to recruit fans of more of a classic rock structure. I love NJ, but I found this album to be mostly uninteresting as I have heard this all before in previous decades of rock.

Good hardcore band.......2007-06-22

These guys rock.
Buy all their albums.
Go to every show you can.
I will
Automatic one point deduction for picking the wrong religion

Scary.......2007-06-16

Dude i don't listen to punk Rock..........i mean i like Fall Out Boy but Damnnnnnn what kind of music is this?!!!!!!!!! Whoa...Did someone say never again.........I exxagerate but that is to say , this music is very freaky.

Not That Good.......2007-06-14

This CD is not very good. Bless the martyr and kiss the child was better, and O God the aftermath was better than all of them. This cd seems very muffled and his voice is not that great. The CD seems rushed, and just isn't Norma Jean at all. I hope their next CD is better.

Average customer rating:

Great album by Underoath, better than Define the Great Line.
This CD IS GREAT!
Awesome!
crazy
The Dallas Taylor, Octavio era...

The Changing of Times
Underoath
Manufacturer: Solid State Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

They're Only Chasing Safety
They're Only Chasing Safety
Define the Great Line (CD & DVD)
Bless the Martyr and Kiss the Child
The Weak's End

ASIN: B000060NV6
Release Date: 2002-02-26

Tracks:

When The Sun Sleeps
Letting Go Of Tonight
A Message For Adrienne
Never Meant To Break Your Heart
The Changing Of Times
Angel Below
The Best Of Me
Short Of Daybreak
Alone In December
814 Stops Today

Customer Reviews:

Great album by Underoath, better than Define the Great Line........2007-06-10

This album is the third album released by Underoath, and it is quite different from "Cries of the Past" and "Act of Depression" as it has more melodic touches and the overall sound is not as hard as those two albums. However, the album itself is composed very nicely; the guitar riffs go along very nicely with each song, and the melodic synthesizer adds a unique catchy rhythm to certain songs.

This album may be hard to get used to for those who started listening to Underoath through "They're Only Chasing Safety" or "Define the Great Line", as the vocalist is completely different. Dallas Taylor's voice in this album is raw and high-pitched, it takes getting used to--but after you do, the voice fits with the songs.

Some flaws that people may see in this album is that it sounds too poppy, but I felt that the poppiness and hardcore sound of the album is very well balanced--the hardcore sound exerts the energy of the album while the poppy sounds add to the emotional touch of the album. There are some amazing breakdowns in this album, such as near the end of the songs "Angel Below" and "Short of Daybreak". I feel that each song was given equal attention to when created.

The album starts off with a great single "When the Sun Sleeps", which is actually the only song with a chorus inside the album. It may leave the listener longing for more chorus-type songs, but once again, this album takes getting used to.

Some of the best songs in this album are:

Angel Below, When the Sun Sleeps, Short of Daybreak, The Changing of Times, Letting Go of Tonight, The Best of Me.

Another thing that I enjoyed about this album is that it flowed quite nicely from beginning to end--each song showed purpose and ended in a good manner. The album ends with the song "Alone In December" which adds the cherry on top of the cake.

I really loved this album, and I highly recommend it for old Underoath listeners and new Underoath listeners alike--it may take some getting used to, but it's worth it.

My rating: 5/5, if it were out of 10 then I would rate this album a 9.5/10.

This CD IS GREAT!.......2007-03-02

This is my opinion:
Out of the "The Changing of Times", "They're Only Chasing After Safety", and "Defining the Great Line", I think this album is the best out of all of them. Many people say this album sucks, but they are wrong. I actually at first feared buying this cd because the online reviews said this cd SUCKED. So I bought the most recent CD's of them and they did not leave me that satisfied then I decided to put myself into the challenge and bought the CD.

MY COMMENT:
Boy, were the comments wrong! This CD is there best cd out of all of them!
Their singing and screaming is good. If you like the old-school Underoath, there are some songs here that are going to satisfy your taste, but do not exceed your expectations to high. This cd is a singing/screaming emo genre, but I have to say it sounds good! A Message for adrienne is a good song, and The Sun Still Sleeps also is a good song. I really have to say though, the whole CD is great. It sounds nothing like Taking Back Sunday, which the two most recent cd's sound like. If you are into the screaming and singing rock, then this should be the CD for you!

Awesome!.......2006-09-13

Just plainly...Dallas is the most amazing screamer ever. old underOATH rocks. Octavio is an awesome guitarist. and that Marissa girl below me has no idea what she's talking about underOATH wise

crazy.......2006-07-28

i guess dallas and octavio leaving is the best thing that could ever happen to underoath, this was by far the worst underoath c.d. i've ever heard. i'm not sure if it's because it was back when they were younger or because of the difference in members but damn am i glad they've changed. their best c.d. so far is "they're only chasing safety" but "define the great line" is right behind it, not as great but still good. what that guy said about aaron was stupid, it may have upset you that he asked them to leave but he's smart for it. also, he's far from a fruit, he's an AMAZING drummer and great singer. he pretty much makes the band, sure spencer is good but aaron adds a special BAM to it. unlike other crappy christian bands. they have my complete respect.

The Dallas Taylor, Octavio era..........2006-03-24

This is probably the best #1 album Underoath came out with, a top with Cries of the Past and Act of Depression. This album is a deffinite plus to buy, as well as their previous ep's Cries and Act of Depression. This album has a lot to do with Dallas' personal life, as well as his relationship with Jesus Christ. Before the Underoath members rid the band of Dallas and Octavio, both of them were the basic heart and soul of Underoath, in fact the founders. And the fact that these two very talented individuals was kicked out by that fruit Aaron Gilespie and that keyboardist dude kinda ticks me off. In my opinion, Dallas should've fought back against this when Aaron asked him to leave, and I'm guesing Octavio left because Dallas left.

I urge u buyers out there to search for this album, buy it, and keep it till u die. You won't regret it. Also look for their ep's as well. And keep this in mind, this band wasn't formed by Aaron (drummer/ singer), it was formed by Dallas Taylor in 1999 in Dallas' bedroom.

This album owns Chasing Safety.

Average customer rating:

AMAZING
The musical person's metal
When you're angry, you scream, now that's awesome
THE BEST
Clean Quality and a fresh sound

Thrill Seeker
August Burns Red
Manufacturer: Solid State Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Death Metal | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music

General | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Looks Fragile After All
Son, I Loved You at Your Darkest
A Chorus of Obliteration
Of Love and Lunacy
When Everything Falls

ASIN: B000BM7YKG
Release Date: 2005-11-08

Tracks:

Your Little Suburbia Is In Ruins
Speech Impediment
Endorphins
Too Late For Roses
Barbarian
The Reflective Property
A Wish Full Of Dreams
Consumer
A Shot Below The Belt
Eve Of The End
The Seventh Trumpet

Customer Reviews:

AMAZING.......2007-07-11

this is just an awsome album. Barbarian is the best song on it, mostly because of the insanely out of place guitar solo that they amazingly fit into that song without making it sound out of place at all. This album in my opinion is better than the new one which i got at their CD release show at the Chameleon. They are from the same area i am, so that makes me like them even more. my point is just buy the album. you'll love it.

The musical person's metal.......2007-01-12

I am not a metalhead. I don't dress in black. I don't list GWAR as one of my favorite bands. I am a fan of good music--that is, music that is good by being complicated, different, beautiful, or otherwise adhering to longstanding rules about what good music is laid out by the critics of the likes of Beethoven, Mozart, Bach and so on. The rest of this album's reviews will tell you this is a great album because it's "sweet" or "heavy" or "pumps you up" or the empty quasi-intelligent-sounding moniker "technical". I'm here to tell you that this album is good because the music is good.

All vocals and feeling through listening aside, let's look at the instrumentation. Each song is filled with guitarwork that will leave your head spinning. Instead of relying on the boring drop-D-string pounding with interspersed licks so heavily, ABR's songs are all but driven by complicated riffs the whole song through. How they can play an entire live set filled with songs like this is more than I can comprehend (but I've seen them do it).

The drumming is not the typical double-bass-drum-roll with limited snare and cymbal variety (think As I Lay Dying--which is good, but less complicated). The beats are nothing like anything else. I feel sorry for this drummer's bandmembers trying to figure out how to play with his crazy intricate beats, but I love it. Try to nod your head to any of their songs (those of you who have rythm) and notice that you'll inevitably be off-beat throughout the song because of changing time-signatures!

This album is good not because it gives me something to jump around, kick, scream, and break things to, but because the musicianship is top-of-the-line.

When you're angry, you scream, now that's awesome.......2006-12-04

This album was amazing! But, it's so stupid that they put the entire album in their official website. I really like the song "Speech Impediment", love how it began, love the drumming in this song, and lovethe vocals in this song.The members are so young, and are impressive. this is definetly heavy! "Endoephins" was really brutal, and the drumming was good too. I really love this song!! The drumming in the beginning of "Too Late For Roses" was good too. This band is soooo heavy! I just can't wait for their new album around the early 2007. My favorite songs are tracks 1-5. "Barbarian" is definetly heavy! But, most songs in this album sounded the same, but still the drumming was amazing!! Good job, boys!

THE BEST.......2006-08-17

I never write reviews and felt like I just had to for these guys... this cd is simply amazing. The vocals are perfect, the music rips and is technically interesting but not forced technical, the sound and production is killer, the arrangements are excellent, and the flow and groove are all there. There isn't much singing so if you're looking for the melodic singing - not here - but the vocals fit in perfect... I'd compare these guys to Lamb of God but they're a little different - I think they're more musically interesting but love both bands. Definitely check this out. This is a cd that you can listen to over and over and over and never get tired of. One of my favs for sure.

Clean Quality and a fresh sound.......2006-08-09

I never expected to like another christian band again after listening to Demon Hunter :\ However, these guys are one of the more technical metalcore bands out there, these guys have alot of talent and this is a CD that shouldn't be missed, and don't get put off by the fact that their christian, since it doesn't really matter as long as the music is good ;)

Standout songs
--------------
Speeche Impediment
Too Late For Roses
Barbarian

Music Review:

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