Band: On Solid Ground

Album: On Solid Ground
Genre: Deathcore

Year Released: 2007

Rating: 8/10

     This is one of many bands that could be considered "One EP Wonder" bands. On Solid Ground formed in 2005, and broke up in 2008. There was apparently a reunion show a year or two later, but I don't know where or when it was. A great deal can't really be said about the band's history, since they only had a myspace, and there really isn't a lot there. But we're not here to talk about the band's history. We're here to talk about this album.
     On Solid Ground is a very well-crafted deathcore EP. It hails 7 in-your-face tracks, full of harsh lyrics with a strong biblical base. The drums and guitars are what you'd expect in any deathcore album. Plenty of riffs, some chugging, and enough blast beats to keep you entertained. The instrumental work does start to get a little repetitive, but not so repetitive that you'll get annoyed.
    The vocals are what stand out on this release. Their vocalist had little relent, and it's very evident in every track. You'll find plenty of pig squeals and harsh yells (with occasional understandable yells). I'll admit, I'm not sure how much voice their vocalist had left by the end of each show.
     This is one album I highly recommend for someone who's frustrated with modern deathcore, and whants a little more death than core in their metal. You'll have to find this album on a file-sharing site though. No physical copies are available (to my knowledge), and you certainly can't find their material on iTunes or amazon.
  

 

Band: A Thousand Times Repent

Album: Virtue Has Few Friends

Genre: Brutal Deathcore

Rating: 10/10

This was another band that was very difficult to find information on. They were only around for a short time. They were what I call a "One EP Wonder". But boy was the EP that they made incredible. It still remains one of my favorites to this day. "Virtue Has Few Friends" was released back in 2007. It was then re-released with a different cd sleeve. The old one looked like this

     The later release looked like the image at the top of this post.

The album beings with some demonic giggling, followed by a young girl saying "You are demons. I think the only thing you will taste today, is your own blood." You're then immediately greeted with some of the best pig squeal vocals I've heard since Impending Doom's only good album "The Sin and Doom of Godless Men". The vocals are absolutely phenomenal. The instrumental work is pretty good, and relies on riffs; like you would expect in a deathcore release such as this. The last 40 seconds of this song are an incredible breakdown. Breakdowns aren't something I really care about, since I'm very selective with my "core" music. But this one is nothing but incredible. It starts brutal, and ends brutal. 

     The rest of the album is just as great. "A Band of Hunters Stalk in Edo" and "That Was the Night Everything Changed" both have soft vocal/instrumental sections at their ends. One song I'd like to do is take some time to talk about is the last song on the album, "Complete Relinquish. Utter Abandon". It certainly isn't something that you would EVER expect to hear at the end of such a powerful and brutal deathcore album. The entire song is nothing but piano and vocals. The vocals are beautiful. The lyrics are beautiful. It simply isn't something you'd ever expect from a deathcore band, especially for their first release. It's a must-listen. And the best part is, even your overly-conservative grandmother will enjoy this track. 

     If you find yourself privileged to come across this gem, pick it up and hold on for dear life. Anyone who likes brutal music will love this album. It's what deathcore should be. It's a real shame that the band never released anything after this. I don't know anything about the band's splitting up, outside of the fact that they needed a new drummer. I only learned that because if you go to the band's Myspace page, you'll see "looking for a new drummer" in their name.

The Twelfth Amethyst: To Davy Jone's Locker

Band : Twelfth Amethyst
Album: To Davy Jones Locker
Rating: 8/10
Genre: Deathcore
The Twelfth Amethyst is a Christian Deathcore band. Their sound has toned down since this albums release, which is a bit saddening because this release is filled with pure insanity. Fortunately, this insanity is "controlled". It has a very nice flow, and little of the album runs together. The vocals of all ranges, with a majority being "Bree Bree" or high pitched yells. There's also a fair mix of guttural growls and gang vocals in the background. This album is NOT for the light-hearted. Those who enjoy a bit of "inhuman" in their music will like this album quite a bit. Make sure to pick up this one from Amazon or iTunes.
I would like to make a special note of track 9, for fun of course. If you're one of those who has a difficult time making it from start to finish, try skipping to this track. You'll get to hear a nice 21 Second guttural bree. That's right, 21 seconds of bree.