Broken + Cedars= three piece punk. But this time there's a catch...it has melody. Fast, furious, and melodic with a spiritual edge. Broken Cedars' debut album will ensure them a spot up there with the other melodic speed punk groups like Slick Shoes and Sick of Change.
What will catch your attention is the great breaks they have in their mix. Right in the middle of a song they will switch off the distortion and you hear the same kind of grooves you used to hear in old school hardcore, usually during the sad part of the song, for a unique twist. It was unusual, but welcome to my ears.
The only downside that I could think of was the vocals. There was a little bit too much of the nasal tone, almost as if the lead singer were trying to achieve the same sound as the lead singer of Slick Shoes, but then again imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. And on top of that, the production was subpar on the vocal tracks. If you could have put these in a better studio, then it would increase the value of the music.
Basically, if you like melody in your carnage, get it.
3 tocks
Other coverage for this album
HM Magazine #83Reviewed by A Girl Called GordonOh, my . . . I like this CD! (I would say I love it, but I'm not mature enough to make that statement. But I do like this CD a lot!!) It's melodic, it's tight, it's got catchy riffs, and simple but great harmonies. Johnny Bovee's vocals are pretty; they're high without being too nasally. He is a straight-ahead tenor, and that adds something to the overall sound of Broken Cedars. His voice blends…Similar sounding releases
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