Poison the Well
The Opposite of December


5.0
classic

Review

by ConsiderPhlebas USER (34 Reviews)
October 28th, 2010 | 36 replies


Release Date: 1999 | Tracklist

Review Summary: I just want to feel this way forever.

Thanks partly to their European record label, Poison the Well sent ripples of excitement around the world with their debut ep, [i]Distance Makes the Heart Grow Fnye West cares about himself, about money, about pussy, religion and black people. Unfortvoice ties together the deceptively simple instrumentation, and from the opening beat of 'Hands' to the anthemic close of the title track, Running Out of Places to Go goes about its business with its feet on the table and a smile on its face. You could call it unassuming, but with this type of quality, unassuming is a sign ofside, and that is glossy, uber-melodic music with a heavyweight punch. And Chiodos certainly deliver on those fronts. The rather awkwardly titled Illuminaudio is a huge, polished affair - one bristling with a newfound, and sorely needed, energy. Any fears that new singer Brandon Bolmer would throw an unwelcome spanner in the works have been proved dramatically wrong; it might b Me’, to the thundering, monolithic ‘Not Within Arms Length’, it was obvious that Poison the Well had found their feet. The integration of post-hardcore aesthetics, melodies and structures took them away from their previous, more metal incarnation, providing a rounded, full sound that they would develop even further in later releases. But for now they were still firmly metalcore, and the spark caused by The Opposite of December resonates throughout the genre to this day.

The album is tightly, crisply constructed. From the first meaty clatter of ‘12/23/93’, it’s obvious that the drumming on display here is a real presence, a firm bedrock underpinning everything else on display. The guitars beat out blunt, energetic rhythms, seamlessly interspersed with melodic streams that temper the anger and frustration of the music with genuine beauty. It hasn’t aged perfectly; there’s a recurring simplicity that smacks of its era, but the record’s soul nevnks partly to their European record label, Poison the Well sent ripples of excitement around the world with their debut ep, [i]Distance Makes the Heart Grow Fnye West cares about himself, about money, about pussy, religion and black people. Unfortvoice ties together the deceptively simple instrumentation, and from the opening beat of 'Hands' to the anthemic close of the title track, Running Out of Places to Go goes about its business with its feet on the table and a smile on its face. You could call it unassuming, but with this type of quality, unassuming is a sign ofside, and that is glossy, uber-melodic music with a heavyweight punch. And Chiodos certainly deliver on those fronts. The rather awkwardly titled Illuminaudio is a huge, polished affair - one bristling with a newfound, and sorely needed, energy. Any fears that new singer Brandon Bolmer would throw an unwelcome spanner in the works have been proved dramatically wrong; it might b Me’, to the thundering, monolithic ‘Not Within Arms Length’, it was obvious that Poison the Well had found their feet. The integration of post-hardcore aesthetics, melodies and structures took them away from their previous, more metal incarnation, providing a rounded, full sound that they would develop even further in later releases. But for now they were still firmly metalcore, and the spark caused by The Opposite of December resonates throughout the genre to this day.

The album is tightly, crisply constructed. From the first meaty clatter of ‘12/23/93’, it’s obvious that the drumming on display here is a real presence, a firm bedrock underpinning everything else on display. The guitars beat out blunt, energetic rhythms, seamlessly interspersed with melodic streams that temper the anger and frustration of the music with genuine beauty. It hasn’t aged penks partly to their European record label, Poison the Well sent ripples of excitement around the world with their debut ep, [i]Distance Makes the Heart Grow Fnye West cares about himself, about money, about pussy, religion and black people. Unfortvoice ties together the deceptively simple instrumentation, and from the opening beat of 'Hands' to the anthemic close of the title track, Running Out of Places to Go goes about its business with its feet on the table and a smile on its face. You could call it unassuming, but with this type of quality, unassuming is a sign ofside, and that is glossy, uber-melodic music with a heavyweight punch. And Chiodos certainly deliver on those fronts. The rather awkwardly titled Illuminaudio is a huge, polished affair - one bristling with a newfound, and sorely needed, energy. Any fears that new singer Brandon Bolmer would throw an unwelcome spanner in the works have been proved dramatically wrong; it might b Me’, to the thundering, monolithic ‘Not Within Arms Length’, it was obvious that Poison the Well had found their feet. The integration of post-hardcore aesthetics, melodies and structures took them away from their previous, more metal incarnation, providing a rounded, full sound that they would develop even further in later releases. But for now they were still firmly metalcore, and the spark caused by The Opposite of December resonates throughout the genre to this day.

The album is tightly, crisply constructed. From the first meaty clatter of ‘12/23/93’, it’s obvious that the drumming on display here is a real presence, a firm bedrock underpinning everything else on display. The guitars beat out blunt, energetic rhythms, seamlessly interspersed with melodic streams that temper the anger and frustration of the music with genuine beauty. It hasn’t aged penks partly to their European record label, Poison the Well sent ripples of excitement around the world with their debut ep, [i]Distance Makes the Heart Grow Fnye West cares about himself, about money, about pussy, religion and black people. Unfortvoice ties together the deceptively simple instrumentation, and from the opening beat of 'Hands' to the anthemic close of the title track, Running Out of Places to Go goes about its business with its feet on the table and a smile on its face. You could call it unassuming, but with this type of quality, unassuming is a sign ofside, and that is glossy, uber-melodic music with a heavyweight punch. And Chiodos certainly deliver on those fronts. The rather awkwardly titled Illuminaudio is a huge, polished affair - one bristling with a newfound, and sorely needed, energy. Any fears that new singer Brandon Bolmer would throw an unwelcome spanner in the works have been proved dramatically wrong; it might b Me’, to the thundering, monolithic ‘Not Within Arms Length’, it was obvious that Poison the Well had found their feet. The integration of post-hardcore aesthetics, melodies and structures took them away from their previous, more metal incarnation, providing a rounded, full sound that they would develop even further in later releases. But for now they were still firmly metalcore, and the spark caused by The Opposite of December resonates throughout the genre to this day.

The album is tightly, crisply constructed. From the first meaty clatter of ‘12/23/93’, it’s obvious that the drumming on display here is a real presence, a firm bedrock underpinning everything else on display. The guitars beat out blunt, energetic rhythms, seamlessly interspersed with melodic streams that temper the anger and frustration of the music with genuine beauty. It hasn’t aged penks partly to their European record label, Poison the Well sent ripples of excitement around the world with their debut ep, [i]Distance Makes the Heart Grow Fnye West cares about himself, about money, about pussy, religion and black people. Unfortvoice ties together the deceptively simple instrumentation, and from the opening beat of 'Hands' to the anthemic close of the title track, Running Out of Places to Go goes about its business with its feet on the table and a smile on its face. You could call it unassuming, but with this type of quality, unassuming is a sign ofside, and that is glossy, uber-melodic music with a heavyweight punch. And Chiodos certainly deliver on those fronts. The rather awkwardly titled Illuminaudio is a huge, polished affair - one bristling with a newfound, and sorely needed, energy. Any fears that new singer Brandon Bolmer would throw an unwelcome spanner in the works have been proved dramatically wrong; it might b Me’, to the thundering, monolithic ‘Not Within Arms Length’, it was obvious that Poison the Well had found their feet. The integration of post-hardcore aesthetics, melodies and structures took them away from their previous, more metal incarnation, providing a rounded, full sound that they would develop even further in later releases. But for now they were still firmly metalcore, and the spark caused by The Opposite of December resonates throughout the genre to this day.

The album is tightly, crisply constructed. From the first meaty clatter of ‘12/23/93’, it’s obvious that the drumming on display here is a real presence, a firm bedrock underpinning everything else on display. The guitars beat out blunt, energetic rhythms, seamlessly interspersed with melodic streams that temper the anger and frustration of the music with genuine beauty. It hasn’t aged penks partly to their European record label, Poison the Well sent ripples of excitement around the world with their debut ep, [i]Distance Makes the Heart Grow Fnye West cares about himself, about money, about pussy, religion and black people. Unfortvoice ties together the deceptively simple instrumentation, and from the opening beat of 'Hands' to the anthemic close of the title track, Running Out of Places to Go goes about its business with its feet on the table and a smile on its face. You could call it unassuming, but with this type of quality, unassuming is a sign ofside, and that is glossy, uber-melodic music with a heavyweight punch. And Chiodos certainly deliver on those fronts. The rather awkwardly titled Illuminaudio is a huge, polished affair - one bristling with a newfound, and sorely needed, energy. Any fears that new singer Brandon Bolmer would throw an unwelcome spanner in the works have been proved dramatically wrong; it might b Me’, to the thundering, monolithic ‘Not Within Arms Length’, it was obvious that Poison the Well had found their feet. The integration of post-hardcore aesthetics, melodies and structures took them away from their previous, more metal incarnation, providing a rounded, full sound that they would develop even further in later releases. But for now they were still firmly metalcore, and the spark caused by The Opposite of December resonates throughout the genre to this day.

The album is tightly, crisply constructed. From the first meaty clatter of ‘12/23/93’, it’s obvious that the drumming on display here is a real presence, a firm bedrock underpinning everything else on display. The guitars beat out blunt, energetic rhythms, seamlessly interspersed with melodic streams that temper the anger and frustration of the music with genuine beauty. It hasn’t aged pe and vulnerability gave the band a truly distinct, endearing character. That’s why, for all its imperfection, The Opposite of December…A Season of Separation is an album full to the very brim with heart, and as another hardcore band rather beautifully put it, heart means everything.



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user ratings (1184)
4.2
excellent
other reviews of this album
LifeInABox (4.5)
The best metalcore record ever? You decide....

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An almost flawless, genre defining album. Poison the Well's full length debut helped to pioneer the ...

korn_field (5)
...



Comments:Add a Comment 
ConsiderPhlebas
October 28th 2010


6157 Comments

Album Rating: 5.0

felt like doing this

Inveigh
October 28th 2010


26879 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

awesome review for one of my favorite albums

ConsiderPhlebas
October 28th 2010


6157 Comments

Album Rating: 5.0

Cheers, man. Let me know what you think of the record.









Thanks, Inveigh. One of my favourites too, has been since it dropped.

AliW1993
October 28th 2010


7511 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

Good review. I like this but I can't ever see myself giving it a 5 tbh

ffs
October 28th 2010


6234 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

nice review



dont like this as much as most other people

Xplisit
October 28th 2010


1646 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

great review man

LegendofPittman
October 28th 2010


2960 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5

Pos'd

You did a really good job of describing how revolutionary this album truly is.

ConsiderPhlebas
October 28th 2010


6157 Comments

Album Rating: 5.0

Thanks guys. Glad to hear it Pittman, I tried to give some indication.

BigHans
October 28th 2010


30959 Comments


Nice work Jewel. Glad to see you writing again.

ConsiderPhlebas
October 28th 2010


6157 Comments

Album Rating: 5.0

Cheers, mate

accompliceofmydeath
October 28th 2010


4921 Comments

Album Rating: 5.0

Great review. If anyone was wondering, I got my username from a line in this album.

accompliceofmydeath
October 28th 2010


4921 Comments

Album Rating: 5.0

If you're asking me, on this album it's 12/23/93. Otherwise, it's Good Morning, Captain by Slint. If you're not asking me

ConsiderPhlebas
October 28th 2010


6157 Comments

Album Rating: 5.0

Nerdy, probably

Phideaux
October 28th 2010


1663 Comments


Never listened to these guys, but this review has made me interested. Is this the best place to start with them?

Xplisit
October 28th 2010


1646 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

Yes

DoubtGin
October 28th 2010


6879 Comments


this if you want their more aggressive, heavier stuff

You Come Before You if you want the post-hardcore influence

Maniac!
October 28th 2010


28548 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5

Phlebphleb is on a roll with these reviews

kitsch
October 28th 2010


5117 Comments

Album Rating: 2.0

am i the only one that finds this boring

accompliceofmydeath
October 28th 2010


4921 Comments

Album Rating: 5.0

Probably not, but I certainly don't.

IRAI
October 28th 2010


1567 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5

album rules.



and its only 28 minutes long, so it kicks your ass and doesn't waste any time doing so..



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