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Friday, October 17, 2003
"'Cul-De-Sac' by V Shape Mind"
by
Bill Vogel III
Friday, October 17, 2003 A.D.
Melodic Hardcore is an ever-growing style, featuring great acts such as OneSideZero, Pressure 4-5, and Alien Ant Farm. One of the new bands garnering much attention is V Shape Mind. Their 2003 opus, "Cul-De-Sac" [Universal Records], is a more mainstream yet very good brand of Alternative / Melodic Hardcore. It's polished and primal, melodic and aggressive.
V Shape Mind's style is similar to Hoobastank and Nonpoint-crisp, melodious Hardcore with clean vocal yells. The guitar crunch is balanced with melody, reaching a nice powerful equilibrium. Rhythms are loose, but dynamic and intense. And they use some occasional harmonies, as well as multi-layered vocals.
The best of these smashing cuts includes the powerful "Glitches," "The Taste Of Vinegar," the deep-bleeding groove of "Chameleon Wars," "Gravity," "Dangle," and the radio-hit "Monsters." V Shape Mind does this style very well.
Overall, V Shape Mind is one killer new band. While they're not brutal, they are still very cool. Stay savage. Farewell.
Related Bands: OneSideZero, Pressure 4-5, Hoobastank,
Chevelle, Alien Ant Farm, Nonpoint,
Trapt, etc.
Keep the faith, and the AGGRESSION.
Copyright 2003.
Courtesy of Stranger Aeons Magazine.
W.B. Vogel III 5:46 PM
Wednesday, October 15, 2003
"'That Within Blood Ill Tempered' by Shai Hulud"
by
Bill Vogel III
October 10, 2003 A.D.
The powerful Shai Hulud returns in 2003 with "That Within Blood Ill Tempered" [Revelation Records], continuing their ever-thoughtful and intense assault. Hammering the dull edges of this massive sound...they add a soft, introspective quality to the Metalcore onslaught. Shai Hulud achieves a eloquent brutality.
The brand of Metalcore that Shai Hulud creates is highly melodic, implementing quieter, darker segments in inflections within their musical maelstrom. The vocals are a crushing growl highlighted by moments of clean, melodious yells. Shai Hulud has an explosive dynamic that is fiercely sublime.
Noteworthy cuts include "Two And Twenty Misfortunes," "Willing Oneself To Forget What Cannot Otherwise Be Forgiven," the primal beauty of "Given Flight By Demon's Wings," and "Scornful Of The Motives And Virtue Of Others." There is no peace here.
In summary, Shai Hulud has an excellent opus in "That Within Blood Ill Tempered." This one is their epic. Stay savage. Farewell.
Related Bands: Hatebreed, Earth Crisis, Hoods, Atreyu,
Buried Alive, Dillinger Escape Plan,
A18, Dim Mak, All Else Failed, Sworn
Enemy, Luddite Clone, As I Lay Dying,
Poison The Well, Closer Than Kin, Dirge,
How It Ends, etc.
Keep the faith, and the AGGRESSION.
Copyright 2003.
Courtesy of Stranger Aeons Magazine.
W.B. Vogel III 10:10 AM
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