Review Summary: Re-exploring heaviness, without much variation
Throwdown's fans have either loved the band for their old metalcore/hardcore material and hated for their newer groove metal change, or like them for their newer material and hated for their earlier metalcore records that the band started their music career with. Intolerance is however a bit indecisive and at times slightly unique, it's metalcore mixed with the groove metal pace the band had employed on their last 2 albums 'Deathless' and 'Venom and Tears.' While the band's fan base has never been consistent or big, Throwdown have always been asked to create a heavier album again that goes back to their metalcore roots and this seems to be the answer. Intolerance is heavier than anything the band has done before.
The first noticeable thing about the album is the lack of clean vocals, the band have completely ditched clean vocals and there is not one to be found throughout the entire 30 minute running time of the album, which is surprising considering the band used them consistently on their last two releases. The band simply seems to have an extreme amount of energy packed into every song; however this is only hindered by the fact that the album is full of generic structures and mosh-fuel segments. Breakdowns come and go in some tracks and the album lacks many guitar solos that the band had also explored in their last two albums there is also a small amount of stand out musical moments makes the album feel little by-the-numbers in execution. So Despite the slightly unique groove metal pace that is seen in some songs, the album drags itself down into the generic formula of quite standard metalcore, which is already a crowded genre that has more than enough of simple and cheap generic albums.
The lyrics aren't particularly interesting either, with most of the songs referring to the straight edge movement that the band seems to be true supporters of. In the first single ‘Avow’ Dave screams 'I Avow, to this straight edge' then a few tracks later in 'Cut Away' screams 'this what I am, the strength is still, Straight Edge' There is a bit of variation but there is never much interesting going in with the lyrics, not exactly typical, just not written well enough to get the listeners attention.
None of these flaws necessarily make Intolerance bad, but it does mean that the album offers very little new and wouldn't impress anyone other than the target audience. So while the band aren't making much of a difference musically it seems Throwdown are happy trudging in between Groove metal and metalcore. Intolerance simply marks a short (28 minute) burst of energetic metalcore right until the end and if that's what you enjoy, Intolerance won't disappoint.
