Post by thesoundmonitor on Sept 19, 2004 5:10:55 GMT -5
FROM THESE WOUNDS
From These Wounds EP
(Building)
Originally I couldn't work out why From These Wounds seemed so familiar. That is until the press release alerted me to the fact that they’re in fact from my home town of Brisbane. I've more than likely witnessed these guys bash out their brand of Gothenburg death-laden hardcore before without even realizing it.
Their self-titled EP opens with a brief piano instrumental track before 'Courting Pandora' starts with a death metal guitar sound before launching into a heavy death metal influenced hardcore chug. Many of the riffs here could easily fit on anything coming from Sweden although the track remains firmly rooted in hardcore. It also has the surprising inclusion of some death metal vocals that are so deep and rumbly they'd make Glen Benton (Deicide) take notice. As I would later find out, all of their tracks feature these vocals at least once.
Next up is the 6 minute-plus 'Stop’ - an epic by hardcore standards. Whilst it carries on where the last track left off it also shows the band experimenting a little bit with song structures with multiple parts, sometimes slowing things down to a painful crawl.
Without seeming to ignore the final two tracks, there is very little to say to that hasn’t already been said. Track 4 'Drain Me' is your standard melodic Gothenburg track as is the final track 'The Saying Goes' - my pick for the best track with it's catchy melodic lead riff
that you just can't help but hum along to.
I'm not going to jump up and down about the production, as it's actually quite good for a debut EP from a hardcore band on a small-time label. Sure, it's muddy at times but would you expect anymore? My only complaint in this field is the cymbals. OH MY GOD they're loud. I was listening to this in my discman and when track four started with a burst of percussion and cymbals I literally ripped my headphones from my ears in
pain. I am not joking. Guys, PLEASE turn those bad boys down next time.
From These Wounds describe themselves as a metal/hardcore act, which is true, however they list all death metal bands (At The Gates, In Flames, Suffocation) as their influences and that is most certainly the dominant entity on this disc.
Overall the four songs played here show promise but I just don't see myself getting into it for some reason. Maybe I'm wrong and it is the production (which IS a little flat), but I just find myself tuning out midway through each song. I've listened to it a few times in a row now and I just can't seem to put my finger on why. Don't get me wrong though, taking everything into account this is still a great debut for the band and hopefully will get them some attention and opportunity to record again with a slightly cleaner
production.
Paul Irwin
From These Wounds EP
(Building)
Originally I couldn't work out why From These Wounds seemed so familiar. That is until the press release alerted me to the fact that they’re in fact from my home town of Brisbane. I've more than likely witnessed these guys bash out their brand of Gothenburg death-laden hardcore before without even realizing it.
Their self-titled EP opens with a brief piano instrumental track before 'Courting Pandora' starts with a death metal guitar sound before launching into a heavy death metal influenced hardcore chug. Many of the riffs here could easily fit on anything coming from Sweden although the track remains firmly rooted in hardcore. It also has the surprising inclusion of some death metal vocals that are so deep and rumbly they'd make Glen Benton (Deicide) take notice. As I would later find out, all of their tracks feature these vocals at least once.
Next up is the 6 minute-plus 'Stop’ - an epic by hardcore standards. Whilst it carries on where the last track left off it also shows the band experimenting a little bit with song structures with multiple parts, sometimes slowing things down to a painful crawl.
Without seeming to ignore the final two tracks, there is very little to say to that hasn’t already been said. Track 4 'Drain Me' is your standard melodic Gothenburg track as is the final track 'The Saying Goes' - my pick for the best track with it's catchy melodic lead riff
that you just can't help but hum along to.
I'm not going to jump up and down about the production, as it's actually quite good for a debut EP from a hardcore band on a small-time label. Sure, it's muddy at times but would you expect anymore? My only complaint in this field is the cymbals. OH MY GOD they're loud. I was listening to this in my discman and when track four started with a burst of percussion and cymbals I literally ripped my headphones from my ears in
pain. I am not joking. Guys, PLEASE turn those bad boys down next time.
From These Wounds describe themselves as a metal/hardcore act, which is true, however they list all death metal bands (At The Gates, In Flames, Suffocation) as their influences and that is most certainly the dominant entity on this disc.
Overall the four songs played here show promise but I just don't see myself getting into it for some reason. Maybe I'm wrong and it is the production (which IS a little flat), but I just find myself tuning out midway through each song. I've listened to it a few times in a row now and I just can't seem to put my finger on why. Don't get me wrong though, taking everything into account this is still a great debut for the band and hopefully will get them some attention and opportunity to record again with a slightly cleaner
production.
Paul Irwin