Rating:
Genre:
Rock
Release Date: 01/16/2001
Hardcore albums never sound this perfect, nor do most
death or
black metal albums for that matter. In fact, it would not be a stretch to announce this as the holy grail of the new breed of European
metal-influenced
hardcore that has sprung up recently with the likes of
Shadow's Fall,
Darkest Hour,
Red Roses for a Blue Lady,
Sevenday Curse,
All That Remains, and several others. Upon initially listening to this CD, many might require essays to describe the utter awe and complete mind-trip this album is likely to reign over them. Maybe it is comparable to those first
Heartwork,
Left Hand Path,
Slaughter of the Soul, or
In the Nightside of Eclipse experiences, jaw-dropping affairs that change listeners' views of music -- in said genre of course. Defying every expectation set upon the
hardcore genre,
The Stings of Conscience draws upon the bottomless pool of European
metal talent (plus the occasional overt American influence) and melds it with traditional
hardcore. The result brings about the most blissfully indulgent, entrancing, and overall greatest
hardcore release ever. After a pleasant but normal opening track, the unleashing of terror and technical dismay arrives on
"One Step Away," when the lead guitar suddenly bursts into a sparkling array of repetitive siren-like guitar harmonics, almost
George Lynch-ian in nature minus 110 of
Dokken (if that makes any sense). From this point on, one becomes enthralled, with attention completely taken for the entire duration of this blistering album.
"Only the People" throws out the first blatant influence when, strikingly right in the middle of the song, the guitars break into the all-too familiar upbeat
In Flames gallop. The centerpiece title track reads as a musical bible for who's who in '90s extreme
metal. Rapid-fire
Children of Bodom guitars begin the event, quickly shifting from
In Flames riffery to the
progressive head-shifting artistry of
Cynic and
Atheist. Soon the guitars flourish into a thick Gothenburg-esque movement that could have easily been culled from
Eucharist's
Mirrorworlds, before shifting back into
progressive hardcore territory. Sound of
Perseverance-era
death rises forth, as syncopated drums guide the music into a flourishing
Mike Amott-
Carcass meets
In Flames finish. Whew! You get the picture, but to paint it clearer, here are several other influences you are bound to stumble across on
The Stings of Conscience:
Naglfar,
Dark Tranquillity,
Meshuggah,
At the Gates,
Soilwork,
Only Living Witness,
Katatonia,
Opeth, and countless more. Even if it is for a brief moment, they exist regardless of whether or not this unknown American
hardcore band from Massachusetts intended it to be so. Vocalist
Trevor Phipps has a traditional
hardcore rasp, interspersed with clean segments that recall
Poison the Well's finer moments. At the same time, the tight and busy drumming of
Mike Rudberg and the bass work of
Chris Rybicki are the rhythmic glue that makes the twin-guitar dynamics of
Buz McGrath and
Ken Susi sound so damn profound.
Eulogy strikes again! What are you waiting for? Go buy this, now!
~Jason Hundey, All Music Guide
;)
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