ARMOR FOR SLEEP - What To Do When You Are Dead

ARMOR FOR SLEEP
What To Do When You Are Dead
Equal Vision Records
6.5/10




Armor For Sleep is probably too emo for most hardcore metal maniacs, but even so, you have to admit that this group has an affinity for writing a memorable melody. These guys are much closer to Good Charlotte or Story Of The Year than many fans might care to admit, but regardless of this fact, Armor For Sleep shows themselves to write dramatic, catchy material that stays with you for hours.

“The Truth About Heaven” finds the group pulling off a definite college radio smash. Bizarre photographs adorn the album’s liner, which lends a Pink Floyd abstractness to the group’s overall image. Other solid cuts here include “Remember To Feel Real”, “The More You Talk The Less I Hear” and the odd sounding “Basement Ghost Singing”.

Overall, there’s not very much heavy metal happening here, simply a heavy dose of emotion that will surely have the young ladies swooning.


ERIN FOX © 2005 - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

CIRCA SURVIVE - On Letting Go

CIRCA SURVIVE
On Letting Go
Equal Vision Records
9/10




One couldn’t ask for a more befitting visual to convey an album’s music than the cover art which graces “On Letting Go,” the sophomore effort from Philadelphia’s Circa Survive. Summing up the extra-planetary sound of the band with a unique representation showing that the release of ego can be a rather uplifting experience, the vibrant colors and inventive creativity inherent in this particular package fall perfectly in line with the experience of hearing this outfit’s soaring sound.

Dazzling harmonies, fluid shifts in time and uniquely engaging songwriting found here reveal Circa Survive as one of the most progressive groups that modern rock has to offer today. Spring- boarding onto the national scene with a perfectly auspicious introduction to the world, the shimmering, fluttering “Juturna,” set the stage for future wonders and “On Letting Go” unquestionably lives up to all expectations.

Vocalist Anthony Green solidifies his status as one of rock music’s most spellbinding crooners, his highly palatable vocal acrobatics elevated above the group’s dreamy melodies in a manner which seems almost effortless. The personality his voice brings to songs like “Living Together” and “The Greatest Lie” is at once charming and undeniably brilliant. A driving focus introduces “In The Morning And Amazing…,” and as the band shifts gears into a flickering counterpoint, the genius in it’s approach is more than evident. Circa Survive exercises restraint when need be, a point of character that’s often lacking in other groups striving for an experimental rock sound. Whether sleepwalking through a snowy, Cure-like groove or uplifting with a vibrant, Beatles-style base, the strong musicianship and sparkling vision of the group shines through like a life-altering revelation.

Often, the group’s expansive creativity makes one wonder what might happen next. When that unexpected turn finally arrives, everything simply falls into place. Predictability is not a dogma which Circa Survive subscribes to. From the urgency and restlessness of “The Difference Between Medicine And Poison Is In The Dose” to spiraling, cosmic undertones of “Close Your Eyes To See,” the band never fails to impress its originality upon the listener. Couple that factor with a formidable arsenal of ringing melodies and memorable moments and you come up with a stunningly enjoyable formula.

“On Letting Go” solidifies the identity that was merely hinted at on “Juturna.” Taking things to an entirely different level with bolder choruses, more impassioned performances and a self confidence that is positively radiant, Circa Survive has earned a place amongst modern rock’s most entertaining acts. This record is not merely entertainment, however. It is a deeply compelling, quantifiably fantastic achievement that demands to be heard.