lemontie
08/14/09, 11:17 PM
Broadway - Kingdoms
Record Label: Uprising Records
Release Date: July 7, 2009
I didn't start out in love with Broadway. Being a part of a scene with a lot of crap to weed out doesn't do a band good when it comes to publicity. I was skeptical to think these guys were good when I was going to The Artery Foundation Across The Nation tour. After all, their Myspace only showed small signs of promise, with what sounded like a typical post-hardcore sounding song. What interested me, though, is that on a band's first full length, they could get Jonny Craig and Craig Owens to lend guest vocals. Hate aside, the post-hardcore scene seems to eat up these two vocalists, and with a random band hailing from Florida getting these two on their first LP, I had to instantly assume they had promise. And when I showed up to the venue and saw them open the night, I knew my assumption was right.
First things first, the vocals on this album do not do Misha Camacho justice. Before anyone assumes, Misha is able to reach a vocal high that is often higher than any other people on this scene (Craig Owens, Vic Fuentes, etc.). Not only does he sing high notes like he never hit puberty, he screams as low a pitbull ready to gut a kid that wandered onto its territory. Critics are probably skeptical, but Misha can pull off any song on the album live perfectly. Now, it's not to say he only sings insanely high, he does have a wide singing vocal range as well. Kingdoms has a fantastic mix of all vocals and screams and it truly is a pleasure to listen to his voice.
I find it really hard to dislike any track on this album. "Meg Ryan Would Play You in the Movies" is a love ballad with strong lyrics like "Lets take our time / 'Cause I just know / That watching your romance is getting killer / That will leave us dead in the wake," backed up with insanely catchy riffs and backup vocals. "Don't Jump the Shark Before You Save the Whale" is also a standout, with Jonny Craig's vocals giving a really powerful performance, along with Misha's voice and guitars soloing here and there. Those wanting more hardcore songs with a good breakdown will be listening to "We Are Paramount," with all the double bass filled drumming and deep growls/screams that will sure to get you on your feet if you happen to like moshing. It's also a thing with bands these days, to put in a cutesy slow song. "AWOL" does that with nothing but a piano (and synth, but it actually doesn't detract from the song) and Misha blasting out some corny, but powerful lyrics like "I hope this goes well, cause for a long time / I will be living in hell away from you/And I ask myself 'is that something I can do?'."
Kingdoms does a phenomenal job taking out things in a scene that are just flat out terrible, and Broadway have created a first album that really shows why people listen to this kind of music. Broadway doesn't focus on breakdowns, and they don't focus on cute songs to get in a girl's pants. They focus on music, and making music that people can love, listen to over and over, and mosh to. I had this album since release date. I can easily say this album has been playing at least ten times a day, every day since then. I can't seem to get enough from Broadway, and even though they just released this album, I'm absolutely giddy to see what this Florida band that came from nowhere can come up with next.
post-hardcore in general, Dance Gavin Dance, Chiodos, Pierce the Veil
Record Label: Uprising Records
Release Date: July 7, 2009
I didn't start out in love with Broadway. Being a part of a scene with a lot of crap to weed out doesn't do a band good when it comes to publicity. I was skeptical to think these guys were good when I was going to The Artery Foundation Across The Nation tour. After all, their Myspace only showed small signs of promise, with what sounded like a typical post-hardcore sounding song. What interested me, though, is that on a band's first full length, they could get Jonny Craig and Craig Owens to lend guest vocals. Hate aside, the post-hardcore scene seems to eat up these two vocalists, and with a random band hailing from Florida getting these two on their first LP, I had to instantly assume they had promise. And when I showed up to the venue and saw them open the night, I knew my assumption was right.
First things first, the vocals on this album do not do Misha Camacho justice. Before anyone assumes, Misha is able to reach a vocal high that is often higher than any other people on this scene (Craig Owens, Vic Fuentes, etc.). Not only does he sing high notes like he never hit puberty, he screams as low a pitbull ready to gut a kid that wandered onto its territory. Critics are probably skeptical, but Misha can pull off any song on the album live perfectly. Now, it's not to say he only sings insanely high, he does have a wide singing vocal range as well. Kingdoms has a fantastic mix of all vocals and screams and it truly is a pleasure to listen to his voice.
I find it really hard to dislike any track on this album. "Meg Ryan Would Play You in the Movies" is a love ballad with strong lyrics like "Lets take our time / 'Cause I just know / That watching your romance is getting killer / That will leave us dead in the wake," backed up with insanely catchy riffs and backup vocals. "Don't Jump the Shark Before You Save the Whale" is also a standout, with Jonny Craig's vocals giving a really powerful performance, along with Misha's voice and guitars soloing here and there. Those wanting more hardcore songs with a good breakdown will be listening to "We Are Paramount," with all the double bass filled drumming and deep growls/screams that will sure to get you on your feet if you happen to like moshing. It's also a thing with bands these days, to put in a cutesy slow song. "AWOL" does that with nothing but a piano (and synth, but it actually doesn't detract from the song) and Misha blasting out some corny, but powerful lyrics like "I hope this goes well, cause for a long time / I will be living in hell away from you/And I ask myself 'is that something I can do?'."
Kingdoms does a phenomenal job taking out things in a scene that are just flat out terrible, and Broadway have created a first album that really shows why people listen to this kind of music. Broadway doesn't focus on breakdowns, and they don't focus on cute songs to get in a girl's pants. They focus on music, and making music that people can love, listen to over and over, and mosh to. I had this album since release date. I can easily say this album has been playing at least ten times a day, every day since then. I can't seem to get enough from Broadway, and even though they just released this album, I'm absolutely giddy to see what this Florida band that came from nowhere can come up with next.
post-hardcore in general, Dance Gavin Dance, Chiodos, Pierce the Veil