Disclaimer: Several people give things score marks, i.e. 6/10, 3 and a half stars. I want to stay away from that in my reviews. Instead, I will tell you from my point of view what happened right and what happened wrong. You can agree or disagree, but I do suggest you partake in what I'm reviewing and form your own opinion. Enjoy :)
SACRIFICE TO SURVIVE - SACRIFICE TO SURVIVE
FIRST RELEASED December 10, 2011
LABEL: None
GENRE: Metal
SUBGENRES: Progressive/Experimental
SINGLES: N/A
MEMBERS:
Emily Aldridge - vocals, synth
Matt Stoops - guitars, production
Cory Stewart - guitars, backing vocals
Ted Sisak - bass
Josh Hughes - drums
It's not everyday you just run into someone who connects abstract dots of your past to your present. Such was the case when I got myself on the guest list for All Shall Perish when they passed through Jacksonville back in August of 2011 opening for Suicide Silence. I brought a friend with me and we had a great time. Got to see some weird opening bands and wait for All Shall Perish, until I bumped into this woman who was standing on a bench behind me. This dark haired woman and I elbowed each other before apologizing, and I in my protective instinct knowing we were at a metal show told her if it got crazy to stay up there and I'd keep my eye out. I figured that was the end of the pleasantries for the evening. I was (delightfully) wrong.
During a break, we spoke about the bands being on Mayhem which we coincidentally both just got back from, myself in Tampa and she from West Palm. We talked about collective interests, and at first we were talking about progressive bands. I was stoked about a project I was starting, and she was also talking about this band called Artilect (more on them in their own entry soon) that I needed to check out. I asked her name, gave her mine, we exchanged information and said we'd meet up at some of these shows again sometime. Very friendly and awesome. She said she also fronted a band around here that was kinda progressive and she was excited to be a part of it. If I had known how modest she was being at the time, I would've kicked my own face. A few days later once the week gave way, I looked up her band online.
The lead guitarist was a guy named Matt, she had told me at the show. When I looked online and saw the members, I saw his name was not just Matt. It was Matt Stoops. It had to have been the same Matt Stoops I was thinking of. Two years prior, I sent a craigslist ad myself for a project I'd just begun. A Matt Stoops answered, keying in similar interests. This had to be the same guy; and it was. When the time came for me to even get around to Matt, I'd already had two guys (who ultimately both flamed out quicker than a high school romance). Disengaged and disillusioned after trying some other guys, I continued doing what I always did and wrote on my own, and didn't bother trying to get Matt or anyone else's attentions. Oh, history and its cruel twists of fate.
This was indeed Matt Stoops. He had formed the band Luminesce with primarily the same core group he had now, but later changed the name to Sacrifice To Survive. The band were in the process of recording their debut and ready to play some shows. Once I made the connection to Emily that I knew Matt, they invited me out to their house for Emily's birthday party. We all have been friends ever since. It wasn't long before clips of their album were made available and plans for a debut release show were in place. Now, let's talk music.
I heard a clip of the first song called It Dies With Winter. This song conjures the kind of talent and range that suggests Hayley Williams got to use Dream Theater as a backing band for a record. The rest of the album followed suit. What a welcome surprise to hear progressive songs that aren't full of themselves (none exceed five minutes), metal songs that don't have a lot of inaudible death growls (their guitarist Cory Stewart features amazing range in backing Emily, plus the occasional guttural scream), chugging riffs and churning solos that are clear as a bell (Matt outdid himself on the production which, for a debut, is near flawless), and a positive message throughout the lyrical details. You find yourself singing along after one listen. "When everybody's asking what's wrong with the world today, I'm telling you now this is the way it's always been." This is a band with an undeniable polish and a formidable knack for songwriting and delivery. The energy of their stage performance is also electrifying. I have to tell you that I'm not afraid to say my friends' bands suck. I am extremely lucky to be friends with these musicians who inspire me and awe me still. They deserve and command attention. Let's take a closer look.
WHAT THEY DID WRONG: They didn't deliver this immediately to a record label who had money to throw at them. But seriously. In assessing the album, there is nary a performance or audio quality to fault. Once again, given the fact this is a debut from an unsigned band, this is astoundingly great quality. Matt's production is fantastic and he will be sought after. This all aside, the thing they did most wrong in some points was reel in the adventurousness that the songs sometimes linger on the cusp of. It feels as though it is a consistent crescendo at times without a definitive point of release. If this is a fault within the music, it is a minor one. The other point of contention would be that Emily's voice could absolutely benefit from having more layered harmony. They were prevalent in It Dies With Winter, and the rest of the album could have used a lot more of it.
WHAT THEY DID RIGHT: Everything else. The production, the performance, the sound, the quality, the writing, the mixing, the mastering, the delivery, the packaging. This album was done by people who put 85% of the signed artists they sound like to shame. It won't be long before they get a deal.
WHAT SONGS SHOULD I HEAR RIGHT NOW:
It Dies With Winter - this track is definitely their penultimate awesomeness so far, it is in essence what they are sonically about
Hallucinate/Exile/Awakening - these three tracks make up a trilogy of sorts in my mind, blending similarities and themes
As The Sky Breaks - this number is blistering, bringing to mind Periphery and the aforementioned Dream Theater
As I type this, they're not resting on their laurels. They are already writing and demoing their second record. Links to listen to or follow the band will be posted below. I encourage you, if you like metal or progressive music, or even a good rock song, you'll probably thoroughly enjoy this band; they could use all of our support in their journey onward and upward!
http://sacrificetosurvive.bandcamp.com - Buy the album here for $6 digitally, hard copy for $8
http://soundcloud.com/sacrificetosurvive - Listen to tracks before you buy
http://www.facebook.com/SacrificetoSurvive - Like the band and interact directly with them
Thanks for reading, and I will absolutely try to feature more locals and unsigned bands as I continue.
- Grant
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