I was kind of eager to get this split because I liked Mindrage's CD and I wanted to hear Nailed Promise (I heard they were good). The first band on it is Mindrage and I wasn't overly impressed. While it's not bad or anything, it just was the same as their album. A tiny bit more creative in the music, but still pretty much the same thing. Also, with the release of Living Sacrifice's THE HAMMERING PROCESS being first, Mindrage only comes off as a complete LS rip-off. They sound peculiarly alike. As for the music, everything is tight as can be. It almost makes me claustrophobic. The guitars simply shred and pound and the drums are crazy. The vocals are still the deeper hardcore-esque yell, with intermittent high screams thrown in for good measure. Overall, these guys are very good, but if you want more of the same thing, just buy the CD.
Nailed Promise is a different story. I have never heard them before, and I liked what I heard. Well, not at first, but it's growing on me. Since I am more into the chaotic end of things, Nailed Promise was just a little bit too "civilized" for me. But after a few listens, I realized that they were really heavy and tight as well. I don't necessarily go crazy over the vocals, but they match the music perfectly. Some screams are thrown in as well too, which sound pretty cool. The guitars as I said before are heavy and really inventive. At times they have a Korn feel to them, but better of course. The vocals, as I said before I didn't like at first, but they are good too. At times they sound like Korn with the spoken thing, but sound like Godsmack to a certain extent when he yells. These four songs are really good. They better put an album out soon.
7/10
Other coverage for this album
HM Magazine #88Reviewed by Jason DoddFour new songs each from the Southern hardcore outfits Mindrage and Nailed Promise -- brought to you by the Texan upstart Pluto Records. Mindrage's contributions run the gruff vox with pseudo-metal riffs writhing on low-end breakdowns gamut. Lots of throaty intensity. Nailed Promise compliment their split partner, taking a similar traditional vocal approach with a bit more of an un-traditional…Decapolis 2001Reviewed by Nate BaileyMindrage is sort of new school metal, taking the old school metal of yesteryears and adding to it a bit of the new metal/hardcore influence. As far as metal goes, the music is tight, exciting and has that something extra. On the downside (this is not a Klank reference) I wasn't a huge fan of the vocals, which reminded me of old Living Sacrifice vocals (circa Inhabit). While there are many…The Phantom Tollbooth 2001Reviewed by Josh SpencerMindrage and Nailed Promise are two of those heavy bands that a teenager just getting into metal and hardcore will think really ROCK. If that's you, read no further and go support these bands. For veteran moshers, though, Mindrage isn't much more than your average groovin' rumble roarcore--all brawn and no brains. Meaty distortion, meaty riffs, meaty drums (lots of double bass), meaty bass (a…Dead Zine 2001Reviewed by Orc-CleaverHave you ever gotten a cd that you knew would be good before you even gave it a listen? I respect Mindrage a great deal and I knew that they would blow me away and I wasn't disappointed in the least. If Mindrage was an animal, it would be a charging bull; heavy, angry and resolute. Each note, snare hit and bellow hits you hard! I'm not sure if metalcore can get any better. As for Nailed Promise,…Dead Zine 2001Reviewed by GrindboyEven though they're 2nd on the cd, I'll take on Nailed Promise first off here. I'd not heard them before, so I had no expectations really, but they turn out to just not really be my style. It's that "post-hardcore" vibe, I guess, that makes me think of Blindside, and although I think I like this better than Blindside, it's just not quite up my alley. There are some cool hardcore-ish parts (most…Dead Zine 2001Reviewed by D_ListerHelmet is back...I mean Nailed Promise is back! Seriously back in "the day" Helmet was one of my favorite secular bands. Certainly Everdown and Nailed Promise have become some of my favorite Christian bands. So when I hear Pluto-Records was putting out a split with Nailed Promise and Mindrage I was all over it! What you get are 4 completely new tracks by each band, all of which have a superb…Similar sounding releases
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