xemocorex
04/10/07, 12:31 PM
Haste the Day - Pressure the Hinges
Record Label: Solid State Records
Extreme metal and hardcore punk. The heavy guitar work, tortured screams and plodding percussion of the former, and the obnoxious, rowdy fun of the latter are a perfect match. In fact, metal and hardcore's lovechild has taken the heavy music world by storm, with bands like Unearth, Atreyu, and As I Lay Dying screaming atop charged metal riffs and punk-rock tempos, stealing the hearts of hardcore kids around the world in the process. Most bands add their own distinctive touch to their metalcore, usually giving the genre more mainstream appeal with post-hardcore eloquence or nü metal bravado. In the case of Haste the Day, their third outing Pressure the Hinges boasts a gamut of roars, screams and growls (via new frontman Stephen Keech), addictive hair metal riffs and pop-punk harmonies. It's a seamless blend, but is it too indulgent for its own good?
Hinges is accessible metalcore at its finest, effortlessly switching gears from typical heavy assaults to catchy hooks and ethereal interludes. Stephen Keech is a fine replacement for former lead singer (screamer?) Jimmy Ryan; as the title track progresses, you begin to forget there was a change in vocalist. He also shows versatility by channeling Spencer Chamberlain (Underoath) and Howard Jones (Killswitch Engage) throughout the album, sometimes simultaneously. However, he tends to operate in default mode while he should be emoting urgency to match the lyrics he's spitting out. The infectious clean vocals lend songs more accessibility, thus giving the guys a chance to take a death metal turn every so often without alienating the softies. As for the band, everything here is first-rate from the moving guitars and dark bass to the high-velocity drums.
Haste the Day more-or-less play it safe here, but throw you a curve-ball occasionally; the title track effortlessly blends every facet of the Haste sound, thus being both the heaviest and catchiest cut here. The emo-leaning "Minor Prophets" favors catchiness with upbeat lyrics, and starts chugging later on as a satisfying finale; "Janet's Planet" is a bleak, droning instrumental; "Stitches" is distinctly post-hardcore; the epic orchestration of closer "Chorus of Angels" harmonizes with its Christian themes.
Beyond that, though, there isn't much distinguishing one track from another, which is Hinges' sore thumb. Add the novel factor of the glam rock licks and you have what can be a fleeting indulgence. Though the lyrics tend to paint unusual pictures while encouraging listeners in unique ways, their sole purpose is to supply Keech with something to scream from the top of his lungs (or as Strong Bad might say, the "bowels"), which doesn't help matters. Bottom line: Pressure the Hinges serves as an early summer present and tastes delicious when mixed with sunshine and afternoon drives, but it isn't all that substantial.
Record Label: Solid State Records
Extreme metal and hardcore punk. The heavy guitar work, tortured screams and plodding percussion of the former, and the obnoxious, rowdy fun of the latter are a perfect match. In fact, metal and hardcore's lovechild has taken the heavy music world by storm, with bands like Unearth, Atreyu, and As I Lay Dying screaming atop charged metal riffs and punk-rock tempos, stealing the hearts of hardcore kids around the world in the process. Most bands add their own distinctive touch to their metalcore, usually giving the genre more mainstream appeal with post-hardcore eloquence or nü metal bravado. In the case of Haste the Day, their third outing Pressure the Hinges boasts a gamut of roars, screams and growls (via new frontman Stephen Keech), addictive hair metal riffs and pop-punk harmonies. It's a seamless blend, but is it too indulgent for its own good?
Hinges is accessible metalcore at its finest, effortlessly switching gears from typical heavy assaults to catchy hooks and ethereal interludes. Stephen Keech is a fine replacement for former lead singer (screamer?) Jimmy Ryan; as the title track progresses, you begin to forget there was a change in vocalist. He also shows versatility by channeling Spencer Chamberlain (Underoath) and Howard Jones (Killswitch Engage) throughout the album, sometimes simultaneously. However, he tends to operate in default mode while he should be emoting urgency to match the lyrics he's spitting out. The infectious clean vocals lend songs more accessibility, thus giving the guys a chance to take a death metal turn every so often without alienating the softies. As for the band, everything here is first-rate from the moving guitars and dark bass to the high-velocity drums.
Haste the Day more-or-less play it safe here, but throw you a curve-ball occasionally; the title track effortlessly blends every facet of the Haste sound, thus being both the heaviest and catchiest cut here. The emo-leaning "Minor Prophets" favors catchiness with upbeat lyrics, and starts chugging later on as a satisfying finale; "Janet's Planet" is a bleak, droning instrumental; "Stitches" is distinctly post-hardcore; the epic orchestration of closer "Chorus of Angels" harmonizes with its Christian themes.
Beyond that, though, there isn't much distinguishing one track from another, which is Hinges' sore thumb. Add the novel factor of the glam rock licks and you have what can be a fleeting indulgence. Though the lyrics tend to paint unusual pictures while encouraging listeners in unique ways, their sole purpose is to supply Keech with something to scream from the top of his lungs (or as Strong Bad might say, the "bowels"), which doesn't help matters. Bottom line: Pressure the Hinges serves as an early summer present and tastes delicious when mixed with sunshine and afternoon drives, but it isn't all that substantial.