Every now and then, a CD comes out that totally blows your expectations out of the water, and redefines that band, establishes them as an authority in their particular genre.
Say hello to Society's Finest from Arlington, Texas.
This album first and foremost kicks your butt, and then does it again. Not since Liberate... has an album coalesced so perfectly, or rocked so heavily. Ten tracks of metalcore, with that distinct Texan flavor to rock your world.
One thing that did stand out, is that they seemed to be influenced quite a bit by older Embodyment (probably due to addition of Kris McCaddon), to the point of it being noticeable—borrowed riffs, identical hooks and melodies here and there, etc. Even then, the music is superb, precise and heavy. Every now and then, you're surprised with an out-of-place blues run, but even that works. Barry Poynter mixed the album, so you know it has that tuff, metal sound to it.
The biggest disappointment on the album was their departure from the "Private Conflicts and Suicides" format. The instrumental interludes, or the sung bridges were awesome and added a great deal of dimension to their songs, instead of incessant metal for four minutes. Still, that 'big' disappointment is minor at best, and I'm happily pounding away with the album. An excellent debut, not to be missed.
Other coverage for this album
Art for the Ears 2000Reviewed by Marco PovervestPresented to you on this disc is metalcore from Texas. Sometimes the music on The Journey reminds me of Embodyment's first album (Embrace The Eternal) though there are hardly fast parts here. Mainly slow and midtempo passages. The music consists of one riff followed by another without much points of recognition throughout the songs. At first it sounds like one big mess. Maybe this band is best…Similar sounding releases
2002Evergreen TerraceBurned Alive By Time
2002AftertasteTwo Minutes to A Heartbeat
2001System FailureCan You See the Dead?
2000Living SacrificeThe Hammering Process
2005UnearthOur Days of Eulogy
2005Grace GaleA Few Easy Steps to Secure Heli-Camel Safety
