The Lost Archives Surfacing the reviews of our forgotten youth
    HM Magazine #89
    HM Magazine #89/System Failure
    System Failure — Can You See the Dead? cover

    System Failure

    Can You See the Dead?

    Reviewed by The Kern County Kid

    Listen on Apple Music
    Label WoundedHM Magazine #89May 2001
    hardcoremetal

    This is the young Wounded Records label's finest offering yet. Incessant, chiming guitars grace a fast and brutal hardcore sound that smells just like metal. The sonics are average, but doesn't hide the good within. Some of these riffs could sound very classic metal if they were slowed down and cleaned up a bit. But instead they are twisted, pulled, yanked, and tortured to the point where they bleed like survivors from a mosh pit. The title track and "Please Die Tonight" express this sweet sound best. The latter a gut wrenching prayer for the flesh to die its death with Christ. When the band slows down for some chugga-chugga, they give your ears some rest but keep you right in the rhythm section's back pocket. I love the sample from Brave Heart that starts off "Crutch Of Reason." It's that moment where Robert The Bruce cries, "I don't wanna lose heart! I want to believe..." Classic. This probably should win the award for most improved product from a young label. Kudos to Wounded.

    Also in HM Magazine #89

    Gregorian — Masters of ChantLeviticus — The Strongest PowerIona — Open SkyViolent Mercy — AlonePlankeye — Strange ExchangeVarious Artists — Victory in ChristArrival — DelayedEverybody Duck — Out of the OverflowAdam Again — Live at Cornerstone 2000Ninety Pound Wuss — Hierarchy of Snakes