bolgy99
08/04/09, 09:19 AM
Break Even - The Bright Side
Record Label: Resist Records
Release Date: June 19, 2009
Break Even have had a rollercoaster of a career. With a successful EP and a split with fellow Western Australian hardcore band, Something More, along with touring with some of the very best in Australian and international bands, including Parkway Drive, Carpathian, Rise Against, and their recent spot on the Gallows tour, things might look rosy for a young, up and coming band. However, when guitarist Rowan Willoughby took his own life last year, the existence of Break Even became an uncertainty. When something terrible happens in your life, you can take one of two options; you can let it destroy you, or you can endure the tragedy and persevere. The Bright Side is the product of this band’s perseverance.
Hardcore has influenced so many genres, it’s hard to tell what hardcore really is anymore. That might sound like a bad thing, but it gives the new generation a chance to re-write the rules. The Bright Side pushes a more melodic hardcore sound, rather than the thrashy, faster sound of their previous releases, but it still holds a similar intensity to traditional hardcore. The vocals are slowed to at least half tempo, but it leaves you hanging on every word. Luckily, the words are worth hearing. The album discusses life, its hardships and its rewards, a topic they are far too educated in at such a young age. The loss of Willoughby has given Break Even something real to sing about, something worth singing about, and slowing the vocals allows the listener to understand the often passionate lyrics.
While there is so much hate and anger coming from many hardcore/metalcore bands, Break Even supply a different message. As the title suggests, The Bright Side takes a positive approach to life. Mark Bawden’s vocals supply hope and optimism, and encourage the listener to take advantage of the opportunities they are presented. Usually, positive hardcore would come across as gimmicky and dull to me, but Bawden demands attention with heartfelt and relatable lyrics which draw the listener in.
Moving out of the strictly hardcore category has done nothing but good for the band, as it gives a lot more freedom to express themselves through their instruments. The Bright Side carries with it a melodic, catchy sound, which will allow its message to reach a wider audience without shunning the band’s origins. Though nothing in particular stands out, the music provides feeling, building up and falling in the right places, complimenting the vocals throughout.
There’s just something memorable about The Bright Side. Whether it’s the message the album conveys, Bawden’s well delivered vocals, or the fresh, melodic Break Even, the album is proof that perseverance pays off.
Something More; The Nation Blue
MySpace (http://www.myspace.com/breakevenhc)
Record Label: Resist Records
Release Date: June 19, 2009
Break Even have had a rollercoaster of a career. With a successful EP and a split with fellow Western Australian hardcore band, Something More, along with touring with some of the very best in Australian and international bands, including Parkway Drive, Carpathian, Rise Against, and their recent spot on the Gallows tour, things might look rosy for a young, up and coming band. However, when guitarist Rowan Willoughby took his own life last year, the existence of Break Even became an uncertainty. When something terrible happens in your life, you can take one of two options; you can let it destroy you, or you can endure the tragedy and persevere. The Bright Side is the product of this band’s perseverance.
Hardcore has influenced so many genres, it’s hard to tell what hardcore really is anymore. That might sound like a bad thing, but it gives the new generation a chance to re-write the rules. The Bright Side pushes a more melodic hardcore sound, rather than the thrashy, faster sound of their previous releases, but it still holds a similar intensity to traditional hardcore. The vocals are slowed to at least half tempo, but it leaves you hanging on every word. Luckily, the words are worth hearing. The album discusses life, its hardships and its rewards, a topic they are far too educated in at such a young age. The loss of Willoughby has given Break Even something real to sing about, something worth singing about, and slowing the vocals allows the listener to understand the often passionate lyrics.
While there is so much hate and anger coming from many hardcore/metalcore bands, Break Even supply a different message. As the title suggests, The Bright Side takes a positive approach to life. Mark Bawden’s vocals supply hope and optimism, and encourage the listener to take advantage of the opportunities they are presented. Usually, positive hardcore would come across as gimmicky and dull to me, but Bawden demands attention with heartfelt and relatable lyrics which draw the listener in.
Moving out of the strictly hardcore category has done nothing but good for the band, as it gives a lot more freedom to express themselves through their instruments. The Bright Side carries with it a melodic, catchy sound, which will allow its message to reach a wider audience without shunning the band’s origins. Though nothing in particular stands out, the music provides feeling, building up and falling in the right places, complimenting the vocals throughout.
There’s just something memorable about The Bright Side. Whether it’s the message the album conveys, Bawden’s well delivered vocals, or the fresh, melodic Break Even, the album is proof that perseverance pays off.
Something More; The Nation Blue
MySpace (http://www.myspace.com/breakevenhc)