It Dies Today has an interesting career. Their debut EP, Forever Scorned, set a standard for any metalcore band aiming at infusing a dark melodic sensibility. Problem being, of course, there are about five million of such bands.
2004�s The Caitiff Choir was split in personality. One song would be brutal and full of breakdowns, the next would be a sing-along emocore tune. It was a winning combination for many, and in my opinion, the album�s bipolar structure is its making point; it would not have been a good release if it was just one of the fore-mentioned styles.
Sirens comes out October 17th, competing with artists seeking redemption from their previous works (A Static Lullaby and Saosin), artists on quick popularity rise (HHLL and Escape the Fate), and a new Converge album (me = psyched). Coupled by the fact that the advertisements for the album are pretty distasteful (a close-up of singer Nick Brooks, his not-so-hot haircut, and holding a blade to his throat), I get the feeling that this album is going to lose significance on the capital side of things. But I�m not a market analyst so that�s all I have to say about that.
Sirens is another musical realignment for It Dies Today. It�s an even blend of post-hardcore and metalcore. In comparison to The Caitiff Choir, it�s also more rhythmically and dynamically consistent; mostly straight chugging, almost no breakdowns. The riffs that Brooks screams over and sings over aren�t very different in intensity. This makes for a steady but not quite interesting album.
This album is not too far from The Caitiff Choir. I think the band makes it pretty evident that Sirens is its continuation �the title track contains a guitar-lick taken from the ending cadenza in �The Caitiff Choir: Defeatism.�
�Sacred Heart (Sacre Couer)� is the album�s most prospective single, with its catchy and moving rhythms and melodies. Nick Brook�s vocals are the focus of the music, as the instrumentation is pretty basic. He maintains most of his previous style; his baritone growls are still strong and his youthful singing is a stunning contrast. Sometimes he�ll do stuff I wish he didn�t, like a throaty Dave Peters-esque bark.
This album is like a heavier version of the latest From Autumn to Ashes, A Static Lullaby�s first and upcoming albums, and even From First to Last, though not nearly as lame. If you thought The Caitiff Choir sucked compared to Forever Scorned, then it�s time to wave byeeee to It Dies Today because you�ll never like them again. This album probably won�t do as well as The Caitiff Choir; it�s not as exciting, and not anticipated enough. It falls a bit short and does away with the contrast that made the previous album good.
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C.L. '06 |
