Music of 2007 Part 6: Blood on the Roots/Branches

5. Haste the Day- Pressure the Hinges (Solid State) March 20

For the longest time this year, I didn’t see anything beating this album. Since it’s starting off the last batch of albums, it’s obvious that it in fact didn’t take the cake, but it’s still one of the most solid and enjoyable albums from the year. Brutal Zao-ish (think incredibly throaty, raspy, and terrifying) vocalist Jimmy Ryan left the band to pursue other interests. This can often devastate a band, but Haste the Day decided to keep trucking and enlisted Stephen Keech, fresh out of High-school to join them on their European Tour. Dang. I graduated and went to Europe, but not with Haste the Day, and not with the knowledge that I might never have to go to school again, either. The new album still contains the power and feel of Haste the Day, while the screaming vocals are totally different. Keech doesn’t in any way try to be a copy of Jimmy Ryan, he knows and respects his place as a new front-man, and really mixes it up. Why it’s up here: it’s incredibly solid and, with Keech’s singing and screaming and the excellent harmonic singing provided by band members Brennan Chaulk and Mike Murphy really get to shine on this album. Another reason this album is so high up here is the band’s unstoppable live show. I think I’ve seen Haste the Day more than most other bands I’m into these days, and every time is something totally sick and awesome. Why it’s down here: The albums above this one just outshined. That’s the only reason. If you like hardcore, go buy this album. Jam This Song: “Chorus of Angels”, “White Collar”, “The Minor Prophets”

4. As I Lay Dying- An Ocean Between Us (Metal Blade) August 21

I’m not such a big fan of metal giants As I Lay Dying, but they sure do have a bunch of fans. When this album came out, countless flocks of dude-bros and metal kids were lauding it with praise at every opportunity. Being the self-appointed metal/hardcore guru that I am, I decided to give An Ocean Between Us a chance, even though I was less than impressed with the summer ’05 Shadows Are Security. What I found was easily one of the most solid metal albums to come out this year. With the new addition of a bassist that handles clean vocals (Josh Gilbert), this Los Angeles band that graduated from our local Pluto Records makes a brutal and heavy metal album that has a catchy and relatable hook in almost every song. Why it’s up here: It’s heavy as all get-out, and a bunch of the songs are pretty memorable. I’m also relatively sure that this album will top lots of people’s Top 10 Metal albums of the year list… just sayin’. Why it’s down here: I’m not big on this band historically, as I dunno, but I’m just not wired with their music. It’s great and everyone in the band (especially guitarist extraordinaire Nick Hipa and downright brutal vocalist Tim Lambesis) is incredibly talented, it’s just not my fave. Jam This Song: “The Sound of Truth”, “Forsaken”, “An Ocean Between Us”

3. Between The Buried And Me- Colors (Victory) September 18

Eight Tracks. Two Songs. Over an hour of non-stop music. One of the most amazing albums of 2007. All of those descriptions work very well for the very talented and ever-experimental progressive metal band Between the Buried and Me’s new album, Colors. “Foam Born” is the intro of the CD, comprising the first two tracks and clocking in at seven and a half minutes. Heck of an intro. The rest of the album, entitled “Sammael”, takes the listener on a magical journey through nearly any musical style that can be imagined and mixed into a wild and wide-ranging metal(ish) act. Why it’s up here: One of the most creative and innovative acts of music that I’ve ever heard. The sound is flawless and the live show is every bit as relentless and dedicated. It is very easy to get lost in the music here, especially in the 13-minute fifth track, “Ants in the Sky” which ends in a nice banjo/fiddle-driven hoe-down. Why it’s down here: No reason, it just didn’t top the two albums before it. Jam This Song: “Prequel to the Sequel”, “Sun of Nothing”, “The Backtrack”. Bonus Award: Most Original Album

2. August Burns Red- Messengers (Solid State) June 19

If you weren’t fully convinced that August Burns Red was a metalcore force to be reckoned with by their first Solid State release, Thrill Seeker, you are not alone. I mean, I loved “Barbarian” more than the next guy, but I just didn’t see ABR getting much bigger or much better. I’ve since accepted my mistakes. Messengers is a great album for ABR, full of intense breakdowns, an all-out assault by the drums, new vocalist Jake Luhrs provides some great screams, sick guitars, and bass explosions that you won’t soon forget. Why it’s up here: This is some excellent music to throw down to. Bass blasts and awesome breakdowns (a couple quite dissonant) will tear you to pieces. Also, the band tends to mix things up quite a bit, like the almost-death-metal “Black Sheep”. GO! Why it’s down here: This album’s number 2 mainly because number 1 is flawless, and the track “An American Dream” is super-repetitive and kinda slugs down the vibe. Jam This Song: “Truth of a Liar”, “Back Burner”, “The Eleventh Hour” Bonus Award: Album of Quarter 3 2007 (even though it came out in Q2)

Aaaaaaaaaaand finally…

1. The Chariot- The Fiancée (Solid State) April 3

Here it is, folks: my top ranked album of 2007. What makes it the best? Well, clocking in at just under half an hour, this CD will stop at nothing (and won’t stop very often) to tear you apart entirely… except for when they’re doing something else. What I mean to say is that parts of this album are so “hard-core”, brutal, and chaotic, that it’s almost comforting that it’s so short. Think grindcore but much more of the core than the grind. Also, the band mixes it up so much by integrating seemingly unrelated sounds and styles into the music in a seamless fashion. One track has guest vocals from a full Sacred Harp choir (those are those old style Gospel choirs that sing a capella and bend notes for a really cool old sound) after a brutal assault on the ears and face. Another guest vocalist is Paramore front-girl Hayley Williams, adding some gorgeous vocals side-by-side to chaos-driven vocalist Josh Scogin on the track “Then Came To Kill”. Scogin hails from the outer regions of Atlanta, but most of the band members (since he’s the only remaining original member) are from different places, like Kansas City and Omaha. Josh also used to front the mega-popular (in the Christian forum of music) hardcore act Norma Jean. Hey, you’ve probably heard of that one! They infuse their southern roots with a hardcore format that’s so chaotic and technical that really creates the feeling of “Wow… What just happened???” after jamming out to this album. Give The Chariot a try, but it’s definitely not for the weak of heart or eardrums. Except for the last track but SHH it’s a surprise. Jam This Song: “Back to Back”, “And Shot Each Other”, “Forgive Me Nashville” Bonus Award: ALBUM OF THE YEAR

And that’s it! Hope you enjoyed my look at the music of this year. Also, I might soon be putting up a few of the releases that didn’t make it up here, almost-made-it albums or just plain stinkers. Keep tuning in, we’ll see what happens. Also, previously mentioned, if you’d like to hear any of this music, feel free to go to myspace.com and search for the bands, or talk to me, I can probably hook you up if you’re interested.