Alove For Enemies

Item: Broken Pledge
Author: Len Nash

Broken Pledge

(2004)

Reviewed by Len Nash

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Label Strike First RecordsThe Phantom Tollbooth2004

hardcore metalcore

ALFE's name comes from the bible verse, Matthew 5:44. Nothing fancy, that's the way A Love for Enemies would like it.

Just plain, straight-to-the-point breakdown hardcore, that's what they do, at least for Broken Pledge, that is. Their first release was more of a metal sound, then over time their music has been evolving towards this sound; Long Island, New York breakdown hxc fury. ALFE may be at peace with what is being played, but what is being played devastates.

A Love For Enemies has moved up a notch to Facedown Records and this EP is intended to display ALFE's sound to the masses while tossing a bone to ALFE's fans until a full-length is released. Don't pass this EP up just because it isn't a full-length. The non-fancy ideology of their music is poured into a really good breakdown hardcore disc that's talented and to the point, the point being that a band doesn't have to strive for originality to be good, especially when they're striving to play their hearts out and to crank it up.

As for the "singing," the words portray ALFE's beliefs, left out there loud and clear, to express thoughts thought, to put a point across about being flaky masks of life and lying, a seriousness of faith, and acting upon that faith. Broken Pledge starts with a song asking people to "pick up your cross, get back in the fight," and ends with a non-threatening, beautifully done piano piece that's done like a gothic feeling, light-hearted rehearsal by a classical piano player. A person could call this release "spirit-filled hardcore," but it would be more honest to say they are relaying their message through "hardcore" music and let the spirit blow where It will.

4 tocks