Rating:
Genre:
Rock
Release Date: 10/09/2007
Ashes of Your Enemy was formed in the mid-2000s, a time that found
hardcore-minded
rock moving in different directions. There was standard
metalcore, technical
metalcore (basically,
metalcore meets
math rock) and
screamo (also known as
post-hardcore or melodic
hardcore), and on the retro side, there were the bands that longed for pre-'90s
hardcore, flaunted their '80s influences like a badge of honor (influences like
Sick of It All,
Cro-Mags and
Agnostic Front), and sent out press releases insisting that they had nothing to do with either
metalcore or
screamo.
The Undying,
Ashes of Your Enemy's debut album, is standard
metalcore; the angularity, odd time signatures, and
math rock tendencies that technical
metalcore is known for are nowhere to be found on this 2007 release. Nor is
The Undying screamo; this CD does have some of the screaming vocals/clean vocals contrast that one finds in
screamo, but when all is said and done,
Ashes of Your Enemy have a lot more in common with
Hatebreed and
Throwdown than they do with
screamo bands such as
From Autumn to Ashes,
Hopesfall,
Nora, and
the Postman Syndrome. While
The Undying offers a bruising, nasty dose of
metal/
punk ferocity, it also has a sense of groove;
Ashes of Your Enemy seem to identify with the sense of groove that has characterized
Hatebreed and
Throwdown as well as older
hardcore-minded
metal acts like
Pro-Pain. The thing that
The Undying lacks is strong and memorable hooks; the angst, frustration, and anger are there, but this album lacks the type of hookiness that has made
Hatebreed and
Throwdown (and
Pro-Pain if you need an older reference) as appealing as they are. Nonetheless,
The Undying is not a bad album; the material is generally competent (if less than distinctive), and with the right hooks,
Ashes of Your Enemy might make a more memorable contribution to the
metalcore scene.
~Alex Henderson, All Music Guide
;)
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Number of reviews: 1
