Seems there has been a surge of post-hardcore/punk styled bands coming out of lately. Bettie Rocket Records has been pushing a couple of them pretty hard in Prosper and Like David, so it didn't take Screaming Giant Records very long to get out there and find one of their own. CafFiends does fall into that noisy post-hardcore vein of music with punk ideals underlying it, in the sense of lyrics and not really reflecting the music too terribly much, thankfully.
These four southern California natives bring forth a slightly chaotic yet controlled feel to their music. They get crazy at times then bring it full around for some group vocals such as the chorus of 'Cost of the Cause' where they shout together:
What you live for, is what you die for
What you believe in, is what you fight for
live, die, believe, fight
One thing that really stands out to me on this disc is the sound of the guitars as a more traditional hardcore distortion than the cluttered trashy sound we sometimes hear from bands like this. Don't get me wrong the music on this disc is definitely got its noisy portions it just doesn't seem to come directly from the guitars I think it was added in the post production process. The vocals are also really stinking good delivered in a high pitched scream similar to Dallas of Underoath. They come full on sickened screams that defy human vocal possibilities it would seem. The drums seem to be pretty typical but fit the bill perfectly for this type of music in their often off-time placements.
This is for fans of the new breed of hardcore coming out, if you at all like Prosper, Like David, Anguish Unsaid and those types of bands you're going to flip over CafFiends. Also suggested for you Takehold junkies who need something new along those TOTM lines.
7.5/10
Other coverage for this album
Dead Zine 2001Reviewed by thOrNDo you like to be pleasantly surprised? I know I do. "Do you like the CafFiends?" So says a friend of mine. "I've heard of them," I say, "But aren't they a bad punk band?" "No they are like this crazy post-hardcore type of thing." he responds. "Hmm they've played TOMfest (I go to every year) a few times and I never checked em out." I ponder aloud. "Well here's their disc you will probably dig…Dead Zine 2001Reviewed by Hey YouEvery time I listen to this CD (and I have been listening to it a lot), I can only think one thing: Is this CafFiends Escape Plan? These guys are simply the closest thing I've ever heard to the Dillinger Escape Plan, which is a feat in itself. The good thing is, it's not like a rip off of Dillinger, not by any stretch of the imagination. The aspects of it that are very much like Dillinger are the…Similar sounding releases
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