Customer Reviews

Invitation to the Dance (+1 Bonus Track)

5 star:		(35)
4 star:		(13)
3 star:		(10)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

From the opening of "We the People" to the closing bars of "Jonesin'" 40 Below Summer has managed to open a whole new sound in the rock/rap/heavy metal genre. A myriad of musical influences are shown by this band, from rap music ("Step Into the Sideshow"), heavy metal ("We the People"), and semi-ballads. ("Withered")
In spite of the hard rock/ rap nature of the songs, the band has the ability to do something that most rap/metal bands can't, namely, hold a rhythm and sing as well as scream.

"Withered" is the most radio friendly of the songs and is a sure fire Top 10. Everyone from Grandma to perpetually angry 15 year olds will take to it like fish to water. And when is the last time your Grandmother loved a song with lyrics like, "I'd rather die and have you miss me"?
In this day and age of cookie cutter mindless lip-synching bands, 40 Below Summer has the talent to do something very few bands have ever been able to do; sound better live than on the CD. The band understands what great bands have always understood; that music is entertainment as well as art. The energy of their live shows is a result. Even many of the bands I love often fall flat when performing live. 40 Below Summer excels on stage, bringing even more energy to a growing catalog of songs that already sound superb on CD.
Highly recommended.

I have to say that this is without a doubt, one of my favorite cds. 40 Below Summer is an amazing band on so many different levels. their musical style is similar to few. try to picture a sound with a mix of old school (hed)p.e. and mudvayne. their drummer has extreme talent. he can keep time very well.

what's great about the cd is the style changes so much and the patterns in the songs change so much; it's frantic...yet, seemingly well organized. the guitar players thrive off each other, you can tell by their in-your-face guitar riffs that just go back and forth from player to player. they feed off each other and it works. their vocalist is also insanely talented. i think he holds back a little with his melody, but he has a great voice. whether he's singing, screaming, or flowing...it sounds good.

1. We the People: good opener. good live song. "we the people must jump" it's an in-your-face nu-metal anthem that Slipknot fans everywhere should love.

2. Rope: great song. the lyrics are quite depressing, but the song is great. their are some bad attempts at voice alters in this song...it's actually the only semi-weak song on the cd and it's not even that bad really, just when the voice alterings come in at the very end.

3. Still Life: this is a cool song. these guys have this cool sound that rap-rock SHOULD sound like. he's rapping, but he's screaming while doing it; so it sounds tough.

4. Wither Away: this song, i always thought, should've been a single. it's catchy. it's not as heavy as the other songs, so it leaves a lot open. this is the most radio-friendly song on the cd, this or "we the people."

5. Step into the Sideshow: this song is intense. live, it's insane. it has a punishing double-bass, anthem feel. it's sure to leave mosh pits everywhere jumping.

6. Falling Down: my favorite song on the cd. it's the definition of their sound. deep, honest lyrics, double bass, killer riffs, that crazy scream-rap sound. it's great. the bridge is amazing and really shows off this guys vocal chops.

7. Smile Electric: i used to not like this song, but it grows on you. it's great stuff. it's insanely heavy. "don't you give up your smile"

8. Rejection: the other favorite song on the cd. it's a song about, duh, rejection...mainly the "why" part. it starts off very slow and the singer just kinda speaks through some kind of effect and talks of the addiction to the person the song is written for and slowly begings singing then it busts apart after the chorus. this song is a great introduction to their sound.

9. Power Tool: this is a really great song. more melodic than most. still very good though. this is a good intro to the sound of their next cd, The Mourning After.

10. Drown: a dark, slow, creepy song about depression. it picks up towards the end. this shows off the singers talents as a writer and his chops. amazing stuff. lots of potential.

11. Minus One: crazy, in-your-face guitar riffs that thrive off each other. back and forth. seriously, it's like these guys were born to play guitar in the same band.

12. Jonesin: this song starts off sounding kinda like "minus one" but evolves into a more melodic song towards the middle-end of the song. makes a good closer to the cd.

FAVORITE SONGS:
1. Rejection
2. Falling Down
3. Step Into the Sideshow
4. Minus One
5. We the People

THE BOTTOM LINE: if you are a fan of ANY nu-metal, hardcore, or even rap-rock group...check these guys out. they blend it all together and pull it off better than just about anyone else i've heard to it. i would also reccommend their first cd, Side Show Freaks, if you can find it; and their new cd, The Mourning After.

This cd is one of the best Ive heard in a while. Some good tracks on it are Rejection, We the People, Rope, Falling Down and my favorite STEP INTO THE SIDESHOW. I recommend this cd to anyone who likes Ill Nino or Grade 8. It a rock/metal cd.

This CD is awesome, and they are an amazing live show to boot. The "looseness" of their sound is what makes them who they are; their sound throughout the album is a contradiction, like their band name implies. They have really heavy songs, like "Step into the Sideshow" and some more melodic, calm ones like "Whither Away". Those heavy ones have great drive to them and awesome breakdowns; they are great mosh songs.

And I don't know where some of you are looking, but this CD is not hard to find. I see it in most every store I go to.

Lastly, another reviewer mentioned two singers. There is ONE SINGER!! Yes, the same person does all of the different vocals on the album. If you like Ill Nino, Flaw, Mushroomhead and things like that you will love this CD.

First hearing 40 Below Summer the day they were signed by the imprint label of one of my least favorite bands, Slipknot, I couldn't say I was salivating for 40 Below Summer's debut, Invitation to the Dance. However hearing 40 Below's indie release, Step into the Sideshow, did show hints of creativity and talent, even if the originality factor was missed. Invitation to the Dance begins with a nice drum fill on "We the People". The song itself displays nothing worth repeating except for a nicely placed acoustic strings session that no one could expect. "Rope", at first, seems like nothing new to one who has been listening to metal since a child, but a seasoned professional easily recognizes mind-boggling drumming from Carlos Aguirre, and Max Illedge's beautiful harmony with the rest of his bandmates. Aguirre's drumming is vital to the bands overall sound. The main component that separates 40 Below Summer from the rest of the cliched nu-metal pack is their ability for song-writing which is solely dependant on the progressive drumming of one such a drummer. Max's range is beautifully displayed on tracks such as "Wither Away" and later, "Power Tool". He transists from fronting acoustic melody to hardcore screaming effortlessly on "Wither Away"; and whines, screams and sings within a span of ten seconds on "Power Tool". "Step into the Sideshow", the title track of their indie release, displays the harmony of guitar and bass rhythms. Although they may not have an abundant supply of talent, they work together well enough to escape overbearing complaint. "Falling Down" includes some of the best moments of the disc. The song writing, especially the drumming, is hilarious (I don't know how else to explain it other than hilarious). It seems as though Max took 30 seconds from nine different songs and slapped them together at the last second. "Smile Electric" shows the more Sevendust-like industrial-metal side of 40 Below Summer. As we near the conclusion of the disc the song writing improves, but which unfortunately means less drum-lead songs (A very good example of this is "Power Tool"). "Jonesin" shows the first and only sign of creative guitar work, which is unfortunately not played well. One complaint I have is a few songs that are missing from Invitation to the Dance (namely "Sunburn" and "2 Fisted"). Many of the highlights from 40 Below's indie release are not included here, and that highly disappoints. Although there are many problems regarding the bands originality, there are enough creative moments on the disc to keep the pros outweighing the cons.

its an awsome album. I think you are trying to sound like you really know music but im sure you have no clue what your talking about. Either you like it or you don't, it's not that hard. This guy's writing a novel over here about what he thinks is creative guitars or not, just shut up and let people see for themselves.

40 Below Summer is a band by which I compare all other new music. There is not one single band out there now who can write songs they way these guys do, combining heaviness and melody in such a fantastic manner. Max Illidge is one of the best singers out right now...the only person who I think may top him is Mike Patton and that's saying a lot. It's a shame that these guys will no longer continue on as 40 Below Summer...they'll be now known as "Black Market Hero" with a new drummer and guitar player. Carlos Agiular was awesome on the drums and has a very unique style that you'll love. RIP 40 Below Summer, but don't even think twice about not buying this cd...get it now...you'll be glad you did.

When I first heard Step into the Sideshow,I knew I had to
have this cd. From begining to end this cd kicks ass.
Definitly looking forward to seeing these guys live.

this is a talented band on the rise. this album has many examples why the are the next big thing. first, in this album you get a variety of songs from "we the people" or "minus one", which a hard-hitting song that makes you eager to go into the mosh pit. then you have some mellow songs but still with the heavy riffs, for example,"wither away". then comes your songs with the rap/rock style like "step into the sideshow" which makes you want to jump up and start screaming like Max, the lead singer. you also get songs that have both a mellody and aggressive sound to it like, "falling down", which you can see how Max can scream and sing and make it sound so good. these are just some examples of how diverse this group is and thats not somthing that you can say with alot of groups out there. even though this album is excellent you cannot compare it to seeing them live. they put so much into their music, they give it all they got once their in the stage and i guaranteed you will leave with your mind blown-away from the concert, i know i did! and for those who think that theres TWO lead singers, make no mistake about it, thats just Max showing you how unique his voice is, from singing("power tool") to screaming("falling down") to rapping("step into the sideshow") to screaming/singing("rope").

Heavy as hell yet still melodic, I know this sounds like every other CD that's come out this year but 40 Below Summer do it in a way like no other. I nearly fell out of my chair listening to "Step Into The Sideshow", and simply love "Falling Down". There are a couple songs on the album I don't like, but the ones I do like, I love. Give them a listen.