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Review Summary: An Australian act that is in no ways pushing the boundaries of metalcore, but displaying many features of a solid record. When thinking of Australia’s hardcore/metal scene, you can expect listeners will first think of Parkway Drive, but there is another band that deserves at least some recognition. Yes it’s the same basic metalcore structuring throughout the record that mainly consists of screamed verse lines, clean sung chorus patterns, even riff phrasing/patterns and breakdown sections. Never See Tomorrow debut strongly with To The Depths and begin to make their mark on the world scene. Importantly this release is only eight tracks long which should ensure the listener will not become bored by the albums completion. The album is nothing ground breaking, but it’s solid enough for the metalcore fan to enjoy on a more than regular basis.
The instrumentation presented by the Wollongong five-piece really make this album come together. While the music sounds the same as a whole there is a real talent being shown by drummer Christian Bugg. He tastefully crafts the double bass work under the guitar ‘chug’ riffs, while complementing the album as a whole with his interesting fill work. This combined with the rhythmic patterns of the vocals craft songs that may end up being bland, instead create memorable and catchy lines maintaining the listener and gaining a playback value for the album. All of these features can be found in title track To The Depths. After a soft melodic introduction the music moves into the before mentioned structural pattern. There is also the added melody found in the introduction and verse sections that makes this a highlight of the album. Interestingly enough the band switches things up here and adds tempo changes, and uses different vocal styles (other than that of screamed and clean) in the form of group chants, and echoed lines. This keeps the track interesting while not stepping too far out of their already solid sound. Absent however is any strong presence of the bass guitar, on a record where the mixing is of a high quality the bass seems to have been swept under the rug only to pop its head out from time to time where the result would go unnoticed anyway.
Even from the audio insert from the movie 300 found in Here's Looking At You Kid and the cliché and slightly predictable lyrics Never See Tomorrow still pull off what many other bands fail with; taking something that has been done to death and presenting it well enough to maintain the listener throughout the albums entire length. Every so often listeners will be surprised by some of the stylistic choices being used on the record. From deep growls found in Hope Is Only Skin Deep to blast beats in What Shall We Die For? this keeps the album from becoming stale.
To The Depths is a tasteful addition to any metalcore library. The positives far outweigh the negatives even if the breakdowns at times become a bit much. Some listeners may find fault with the clean vocals, the lack of the bass guitar or the predictable structuring. Overall, Never See Tomorrow has released a solid and consistent debut album and with experience listeners should expect great things on a next release.
| other reviews of this album |
mdryan (4.5)
A very tight, heavy and melodious debut metalcore release which highlights the artists ability to cr...
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Album Rating: 4.0
First time adding the italics in, don't know if it made anything look a little tidier but i thought i would try them out. Thoughts?
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Very good review. Pos'd. Really sounds like something i should check out.
| | | Album Rating: 4.0
Thanks man, i would rec with What Shall We Die For? and the title track for starters.
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Will listen
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I usually italicize album titles and put quotes around song titles, and that seems to be the standard for most of sputnik's staff and contribs, but your own personal style is up to you
This is probably one of the best two reviews I have read from you. There are still at least 2 run-on sentences, and you could have used some commas in spots where you omitted them, but this reads more smoothly than your last one. Worthy of a pos. (I didn't go into as much detail but this is prolly a B- to a B)
| | | Album Rating: 4.0
I usually italicize album titles and put quotes around song titles, and that seems to be the standard for most of sputnik's staff and contribs, but your own personal style is up to you
Yeah, i didn't know how to go about it, so i did it this way, might switch it next time like you said.
but this reads more smoothly than your last one. Worthy of a pos.
That's always the goal Sowing! You could always point those out to me, cause while i might not spend much time fixing the last one up, it's always my intention to put the feedback into the next one.
(I didn't go into as much detail but this is prolly a B- to a B)
Feel free.
....another comment count slump : (
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Hi there, neighbourino!
As Sowing said, there are a few run-on sentences that could stand being broken up into smaller ones, particularly in the second paragraph ("Absent however is any strong presence of the bass guitar, on a record where the mixing is of a high quality the bass seems to have been swept under the rug only to pop its head out from time to time where the result would go unnoticed anyway." is probably the most glaring example I can see).
This definitely reads better than your past reviews. You're improving, and that's all any of us can hope for. Also, great choice with the inclusion of more technical/subject-specific terminology in your review too.
I really need to find some good local acts to support in the Sydney area. I know of three bands (one alt-rock/ska, one power/heavy metal, and one metalcore) whose members used to go to the same school as me, and a few local pop-punk bands, but nothing I'd go crazy over, unfortunately. Problem is, a lot of the local bands just seem really derivative and/or unmemorable.
That said, one of the math teachers at that school is actually in an alright hip-hop project. Nothing weirder than hearing that, man.
| | | Album Rating: 4.0
That said, one of the math teachers at that school is actually in an alright hip-hop project. Nothing weirder than hearing that, man.
Sounds slightly seedy. Cheers man, the local acts round the newcastle area seem to fizzle out when they start moving forward, a real bbuzzkill sometimes.
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Same with a lot of these Western Sydney acts, but ah well, what can ya do. That said, Thy Art Is Murder were pretty damn cool for a while.
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Have some Aussie hip-hop! I should probably get around to listening to this album and reviewing it.
http://www.myspace.com/4thwallcity
| | | Album Rating: 4.0
Maybe one day we can get some solid acts, i mean Daysend go alright as well as Be'lakor.
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The guitarist in my band's old guitar teacher WAS the guitarist from Daysend, in all actuality. I only ever heard their first album, which I enjoyed a bit of, but I haven't heard from them since. And I can't seem to find my copy of it either. Damn. Never given Be'lakor a listen either.
Also, I think one of my old classmates' cousins was a guitarist in a fairly well known (by Sydney/genre standards, at least) Black metal act. Trying to remember their name.
Talking wider Australia, Alchemist (from Canberra) is probably my favourite local/grassroots/home-grown act, if not one of my favourite metal bands of all time. Black Majesty from Melbourne had two great power/traditional heavy metal releases with their first two albums a while back as well, and Synthetic Breed's debut album had some good industrial/groove/math moments.
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infester's album is better
| | | Album Rating: 4.0
Never given Be'lakor a listen either.
Their kinda in the same styling as Scar Symmetry, but not in the same league. I think they're from Melbourne.
infester's album is better
Never heard of them,
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That's right, he plays for Naxzul. Just asked. :L
And I'lll check 'em out!
| | | Album Rating: 4.0
Its worth that if nothing else, they are pretty solid.
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I usually italicize album titles and put quotes around song titles, and that seems to be the standard for most of sputnik's staff and contribs, but your own personal style is up to you
Agreed with this, I like the clean look of italics.
This review is probably the best I've read by you.
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I've never met an Aussie who's heard of King Crimson. We suck that much.
Pos'd.
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I listened to that song ipod. Very good.
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@dimsim
I've heard of King Crimson.
THERE ARE SOME COOL AUSSIES GODDAMNIT.
Nah, everyone I know has shitty taste in music too, bar about three or four people. And even then, they don't share my taste. Ahhh well. What'cha gonna do?
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