Review Summary: Safe and simple, who knew it could be somewhat enjoyable?
I find myself a fan of the simple; bands that never really do anything different but completely rely on just being that familiar are actually somewhat entertaining to listen too. They know the sound they produce will pull in fans because there are so many other bands like them, if they borrow that sound and put their own little things into it, what’s not to like? This is what the majority of popular labels pull for, bands that include everything people like out of dying genres. If you have a one minded screamer, an average singer and a couple of breakdowns, at some point you can count yourself in one of those labels. It sounds unfortunate, but it’s the truth and while it may seem like “core” genres are dying off, they’re just getting larger and filled more and more with nonsense.
Remember Paddock Park? The simple minded post-hardcore act that followed every single genre cliché and still managed to entertain the hell out of you while you listened to them? We Are Defiance is simply a descendent of Paddock Park, featuring a few members and the same to-the-basics sound. Knowing this is the only reason I went out and picked up
Trust in Few, the debut full-length from We Are Defiance. Signing to Tragic Hero Records and releasing a few singles over the past couple years, the band has certainly grown from a publicity point of view. Their non-stop touring with some pretty great line-ups has done some good for the bands popularity. What exactly is there to like here that attracts fans though?
Every single little moment in
Trust in Few is completely and utterly simple, they never go beyond the ordinary, taking the safe way through everything. My point is proven during the first actual track on the album, ‘Welcome to the Sunshine State’, which leads directly after the intro, exploding into a simply formatted, easily executed breakdown. Once vocalist Brian Calzini begins to pick up the energy though, the song skyrockets into an assault of drums and guitar leading into an enjoyable little section. The tactic of opening an album fast and powerful works here, and at this point I would’ve found myself doubting even checking this out, but it’s that simplicity pulling me in.
‘You’re Killin Me Smalls’ features the introduction of singer Jason Neil, while he mainly shows up during choruses, he has a well trained voice that sticks with the higher pitches. It’s pretty much like opposites between the two vocalists, as screamer Brian Calzini sticks with those lower to mid screams in order to emphasize on the heavier side of the music, Jason lightens everything up for those softer sections. Calzini could use a little more work on variety in his pitch, he never goes beyond those lows and mids, pulling off just an okay performance. Maybe over time, through touring and non-stop use of his voice, he could nail some of those highs for future releases.
Sticking to the format still, songs like ‘It’s Not A Problem Unless You Make it One’, ‘I’m Gonna Bury You Underground Eli’, and ‘So Return to the King’ follow those basic rules to the key. Each of these songs are only separated by lyricism and slight change in technique. While each of these tracks are enjoyable, they never do anything reckless, which seems to be the biggest problem here. Nothing in any of these tracks instrumentally gets a chance to stand out, the guitars have little shine moments but the drummer stays basic and never shows what he probably can really do.
As the album comes to a close, one may find himself wondering whether or not he completely hates this, or just floats somewhere in between hate and some kind of like. There are tons of people that will hate this, but I choose to stay right in between. It’s bad, but it’s like so bad it’s actually kind of good. Average yet listenable, but once you begin to over do the listen, you get tired of it very quickly and find yourself letting it collect dust on the bottom of your closet. For me, it could be so much better but sticks to the safe zone, coming out to be an utterly average but fun little listen that I just can’t hate or love. Time for some growing, we all have to do it at some point.
