Customer Reviews

Powerweapons in the Complex

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

 

 

ok here is the deal the guy below said that the last 1/2 of the cd was what was worth checking out but in reality the cd(power weapons) is all old songs (except 2)and the first half of the cd is rerecorded and not very well my cd has parts that just are nothing no music no vocals no nothing in my opinion you need to track down the old s/t cd released a like a yr or 2 ago on less avenged records its hard to find but its worth it they are also good live
if it was the old cd it would get 5 stars

I've just recently seen how this cd has gotten some pretty harsh reviews which I don't necessarily agree with. While I respect all the reviews, I definitely feel this is one of the strongest releases in its respected genre this year (along Yesterdays Rising "Lightworker"). If you have never heard Between Home And Serenity, then basically they're an emo/screamo/post-hardcore band from IN. They blend all the usual elements of singing, screaming, fast dynamics, breakdowns, and plenty of change ups. If you have heard BHAS then you will recognize that this is basically their older self titled cd (which came out on Less Avenged Records in Summer 2004) re-recorded, and with 2 new songs. First some might wonder why the band bothered to re-record the entire album. Basically the previous cd came out on a very small record label, and wasn't pushed very hard or widely distributed. Following BHAS move to Rust records, they decided to put out a record that hopefully their fans would be able to hear. And "Powerweapons In The Complex" is that cd. If you loved the band before, then there's no reason not to pick this cd up, because the songs have new crisp tone, good production, and even some added surprises here or there. At least check the album out before writing it off.

Opening up with a new tune entitled "Flawless Victory", BHAS takes no prisoners out the door. You'll instantly notice passionate vocals laced over top of speedy and sometime intricate riffs, and a rhythm section that can go pound for pound with the likes of any other band out there. I don't really think that there is a bad song on here, unlike previous reviewers whom seem to have a favorite half (first or last). Some of the strongest tracks, particularly "Drain Out" and "Flawless Victory", are found on the first half of the record. BHAS shows a very diverse mix of sounds, going from heavier pieces like "Bleeding Night" and "Fall", to more melodic pieces like "Words Unspoken" and "This Visible Camouflage". The vocals are the typical high pitched singing, coupled with the sometimes brutal screaming that has been pretty much done to death by now. However the vocals are never wearing, in fact they get progressively better as the cd goes on. Musically the band is fairly accomplished for this being their first release, showing some interesting riffs on pieces like "Almost Only Counts" and "Until Dawn", two of my personal favorite tracks. From start to finish there isn't a bad song on this release, which is much more than you can say for bands like A Static Lullaby and Finch, who both put out sophmore releases this year which were travesties. Between Home And Serenity definitely has the potential to be one of the premier bands in the screamo/emo/posthardcore scene, and this semi-debut is a sign of that.

A lot of people have come down pretty harshly on this album, but if you are a fan of any of the screamo/post-hardcore related genres, and if you like bands like Finch or A Static Lullaby, you're going to find many things about this album to like. Say what you want, but this is definitely one of the strongest releases out of the screamo genre this year, and hopefully these guys will only go up from here. There's plenty of diversity, which allows BHAS to appeal to hardcore and emo kids alike, which is saying a lot. If given the chance, this could probably be your new favorite record. Highlights include "Drain Out", "Fall" and "Bleeding Night". Absolutely one of the most underrated bands around.

Sickeningly generic, creativityless emo. They just ape the most basic elements of other bands' songwriting without adding any unique hooks or chord progressions, and probably spend more time styling their hair than they do writing music. It disgusts me that bands like this are able to sell records.

Not as bad as that guy makes this out to be. I will admit however, that it is pretty generic in terms of treading new territory, and about all of it has been done before by other bands with similar musical style (older Static Lullaby, older Thrice, Underoath, Finch, etc.). If you are a fan of the genre and can put that aside fwiw, and compare this to a lot of other similar bands that have released less than stellar follow-ups and bands who've released less than promising debuts recently, it sounds pretty good for whats out right now in 2005. Some tracks worth checking out are: The Visible Camouflage, Fall, Until Dawn, Just a Phase (basically the latter half of this album is whats really worth listening to).