Klatzke
12/01/08, 06:12 AM
Beneath the Sky - The Day the Music Died
Record Label: Victory Records
Release Date: June 24, 2008
There are few bands that have defined themselves with a single song. Unfortunately for Beneath the Sky, their song "7861" completely exploded. On what was otherwise a mediocre release, that song sailed far above and beyond. Now, the question is, can they top it? Can they release an album that rises above the craze of "7861" that can be taken as a whole release? Well, sorry, but the answer is a resounding: no. Beneath the Sky has released, yet again, a completely mediocre hardcore album.
If you're into this sorta thing, then hey, The Day The Music Died is just for you. However, don't expect for it to be entertaining for any extended period of time. It's completely generic, following the standard "death metal" scream and growl combination, with some singing thrown in for "progressiveness." Some bands pull off the singing quite well, and it adds a sense of depth to their music. In Beneath the Sky's case, however, they should have left it out of the equation. The singing isn't particularly good, and when you're trying as fervently as they obviously are to be hardcore, it detracts from the flow. All of the songs follow the exact same formula, (which is also the one they used on What Demon's Do To Saints). The only really noteworthy song is "True Friends Stab You In The Front," which despite its cringe-worthy name, is actually a fairly solid track.
For some reason, somewhere in their hardcore onslaught, Beneath the Sky felt the need to insert "Respect For The Dead." Starting off with a long acoustic intro, it randomly breaks into screaming and breakdowns, and turns into one of the most pointless long tracks I've ever heard. "Another Day" is a dragging, and completely unnecessary track. Following "Respect For The Dead," it's a track of completely clean vocals with an acoustic guitar. The vocals are better here than anywhere else on the album, but it still ends up coming across akin to a bad Seether b-side. Fortunately for them though, they end the album with the harder "The Pursuit Of ???," at least giving me what I was expecting from the whole album in the first place.
Beneath the Sky needs to rethink their priorities on their next release. While this album will appeal to a lot of head-banging teenagers (because I have to admit, the breakdowns are pretty damn heavy, and they know how to make their music seem hard); I doubt that the release will ever make it to those of us looking for something a bit more substantial.
Bleed the Sky; mediocrity
myspace.com/beneaththesky (http://www.myspace.com/beneaththesky)
originally posted at highbeamreview.com on June 23, 2008
Record Label: Victory Records
Release Date: June 24, 2008
There are few bands that have defined themselves with a single song. Unfortunately for Beneath the Sky, their song "7861" completely exploded. On what was otherwise a mediocre release, that song sailed far above and beyond. Now, the question is, can they top it? Can they release an album that rises above the craze of "7861" that can be taken as a whole release? Well, sorry, but the answer is a resounding: no. Beneath the Sky has released, yet again, a completely mediocre hardcore album.
If you're into this sorta thing, then hey, The Day The Music Died is just for you. However, don't expect for it to be entertaining for any extended period of time. It's completely generic, following the standard "death metal" scream and growl combination, with some singing thrown in for "progressiveness." Some bands pull off the singing quite well, and it adds a sense of depth to their music. In Beneath the Sky's case, however, they should have left it out of the equation. The singing isn't particularly good, and when you're trying as fervently as they obviously are to be hardcore, it detracts from the flow. All of the songs follow the exact same formula, (which is also the one they used on What Demon's Do To Saints). The only really noteworthy song is "True Friends Stab You In The Front," which despite its cringe-worthy name, is actually a fairly solid track.
For some reason, somewhere in their hardcore onslaught, Beneath the Sky felt the need to insert "Respect For The Dead." Starting off with a long acoustic intro, it randomly breaks into screaming and breakdowns, and turns into one of the most pointless long tracks I've ever heard. "Another Day" is a dragging, and completely unnecessary track. Following "Respect For The Dead," it's a track of completely clean vocals with an acoustic guitar. The vocals are better here than anywhere else on the album, but it still ends up coming across akin to a bad Seether b-side. Fortunately for them though, they end the album with the harder "The Pursuit Of ???," at least giving me what I was expecting from the whole album in the first place.
Beneath the Sky needs to rethink their priorities on their next release. While this album will appeal to a lot of head-banging teenagers (because I have to admit, the breakdowns are pretty damn heavy, and they know how to make their music seem hard); I doubt that the release will ever make it to those of us looking for something a bit more substantial.
Bleed the Sky; mediocrity
myspace.com/beneaththesky (http://www.myspace.com/beneaththesky)
originally posted at highbeamreview.com on June 23, 2008