Customer Reviews

Pestilence & Rapture

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Across the Sun is:

Colin St. Claire : Bass
Shane "The Brain" Murray : Keyboard
Alan Ashcraft : Drums
Brandon Davis : Vocals
Sam Hafer : Guitar

Now, I'm one of those people who the catch phrase, MUSIC=LIFE, was created for. I have music playing every possible moment of my life. My collection of cd's is mammoth and I'm always listening to new bands and supporting them when I find one I like. I enjoy everything from Iron Maiden/Megadeth/Between the Buried & Me/Opeth/As I Lay Dying to Rush/Genesis/King Crimson to Coheed & Cambria/Taking Back Sunday/AFI/Chiodos.

I stumbled upon ACROSS THE SUN after buying the latest CD from 36 Crazyfists and hearing a gentlemen by the name of BRANDON DAVIS on their track "The Deserter". I was unfamiliar with Brandon and of so of course looked him up. Well, his appearance on the album was memorable and I decided to check his actual band ACROSS THE SUN out. I went to their myspace and played the first song. Without even getting completely through the song I knew this was a band I would be listening to for a long time.


Pestilence & Rapture EP (2009) (Metal Blade Records)

1. May Silence Keep You 5/5
2. The Ardent Optimist 10/10!!!
3. Angelic Deception 5/5
4. Farewell to the Favored 10/10!!!
5. The illusionist 5/5
6. Pestilence & Rapture 5/5

For me what separates this album from the over saturated metal/screamo/post-hardcore scene is:

#1) Brandon Davis as a screamer...he is versatile and can attain many levels both low and harsh with his screams and he incorporates the screams into the song adeptly as opposed to many bands who just scream one way throughout an album making them (in my opinion) a mix cd band not an album band because the songs all start sounding the same. THAT IS NOT THE CASE HERE. The clean vocals are abundant as well and are AMAZING throughout.

#2) Shane Murray's Keys....they create such atmosphere going from eerie to tranquil and beautiful...from strong keyboard sounds to wonderful piano...I feel like Shane truly is passionate and talented as a keyboard player and is very active in the structures of the song. He has a great presence. Keyboards aren't just thrown in to be trendy and they certainly don't disappear in the mix..they are just as important as guitar/drums/bass.

#3) Each member shines with their instruments throughout....you've got shredding solos that remind me at times of John Petrucci from Dream Theater or Between the Buried and Me. I've already mentioned the keys....the drums..OH MY GOD..sick, sick, sick! Double bass galore!!! This isn't just cliche music full of trendy breakdowns....these guys are going to be making lots of waves in coming years...I'd love to see them start to expand into a longer song format...they have the talent to do it!!


This EP is a MUST BUY....don't hesitate....support the musicians you love so they can make a living!!!!