Like most screamo acts that I have been exposed to, this bunch that built “Before The Sea Was Built” possess amazing musical cohesiveness paired with particularly embarrassing vocals. It’s really hard to get over just how stupid these “singers” sound. They really take away from the potency of the music. Like big time! It’s rendered unlistenable. The one guy (or “voice”) that I like sounds a little like a cross between Hammerin’ Hank from the “My War” era BLACK FLAG and Barney from NAPALM DEATH when he’s in talk/express mode rather than the full-on death rattle for which he is more known. It’s too bad these vocals take up less than 20% of the vocal sound and not the whole CD. I’d probably go for a second listen if that were the case. The band might become likeable. I don’t know whats worse; the reedy rasps that ape black metal and paint by the numbers screamo simultaneously or the death metal cookie-monster-meets-KORN calamity.

I'm not sure how hard it is to understand the lyrics because my ears are trying their best to avoid the annoyance to zero in on the riffs, but I think that it’s safe to state that with garden variety screamo titles like “Dignity Stripper” and “Born To Twist The Knife” along with dimwitted ditties such as “Who Will Guard The Guards” (my, how clever), “Everything Changes” (my, how profound) and the way stooopid title track it’s hard to envision this group ever doing anything very pensive in their prolongation. Why on earth do these numbnuts exist in the first place? Why do somewhat reputable record companies like SPV (MONSTER MAGNET, MOTORHEAD etc.) sign this poopoo and just who are the pitiful primates that plunk down coinage to see this crap onstage? It’s just gotta stop! When’s this tired trend gonna end?

- Herring

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