Reviews : Albums : A Second from the Surface, "The Streets Have Eyes"
Email the reviewerA Second from the Surface, "The Streets Have Eyes"
Minneapolis, Minnesota's A Second From the Surface are a fast and furious three piece gindcore outfit brimming with scathing rage. The Streets Have Eyes is the band's first outing and I'm not 100% certain if it is being marketed as a full length or an EP, but it's 10 tracks only cover 20 minutes, so I'd hope they're just calling it an EP, but that's neither here nor there.
The band takes its sound from all over the grindcore spectrum featuring a strong base in hardcore with some thrashy riffing, a little death metal influence here and there, a bit of crust, and even some sludge. The band is quite energetic and their hardcore leanings are reminiscent of Converge (even some of their subtle melody) covering some Phobia tunes or maybe just a less-metal version of December.
Tim and Luke both are credit for vocals, bass, and guitars so it's hard to say who is doing what at any given time (besides Tony; he just drums), but the dual vocal attack is effective enough. The main vocals are a very straightforward yell that sound a lot like the dude from The Blinding Light, but the backing vocals delve into death growls, Barney Greenway-esque hollering, and some screamy parts as well.
The band knows their way around their instruments, but this isn't a particularly technical album. The majority of the guitars are fast power chords with occasional harmonics and deathy tremolo picking. The drumming is competent and thankfully not an over-triggered mess.
Not sure what else to say. It's definitely above-average on most fronts, but not really spectacular in any one way. If you're looking for some solid, grindy hardcore with a ton of energy and anger, this will suit you fine.
Standout Tracks King Cobra |
More A Second from the Surface Reviews
|
|||||
