Customer Reviews

Sound of the Republic

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

 

 

Intense, heavy, and full of the attitude connoted with Raised Fist. This album sees real hardcore music take the flag back from the recent metalcore trend and stick it back where its meant to be, with massive riffs, unmistakable vocals, and pounding beats. Suffice it to say, i was very very impressed.

Thats because its not metal, its hardcore bro. But, to review this cd i would say that this a very good cd. It is nothing unexpected if you have followed raised fist for awhile. Very tight songwriting, nothing too complicated instrumentally, just good clean hardcore, but i would contend that the singer has one of the best voices in hardcore, it's not incomprehensible screams as some bands are prone to do. Its yelling with a message and definitely worth checking out. I have loved all of their cd's and this definitely did not disappoint.

Nowadays, when kids hear the term "hardcore" thrown around, they toss around names like Underoath or even worse, Atreyu; these sorts of bands have watered down the hardcore concept to appeal to the larger emo-kid crowd. Raised Fist's newest disc, Sound of the Republic, lends a European's perspective on the changing scene. The Swedish quartet's first album in four years proves to be a worthy sucessor to 2002's Dedication, which reminded us all what hardcore is all about - speed, ferocity, and social awareness. This time around, you can feel more of a metal influence, which only re-enforces their tenacious song writing skills. Most importantly, though, SOTR revives the spirit of old-school hardcore, bands like Sick of It All and Agnostic Front, to remind us that this "emo-hardcore" phase is nothing but a passing fad.

Nowadays, when kids hear the term "hardcore" thrown around, they toss around names like Underoath or even worse, Atreyu; these sorts of bands have watered down the hardcore concept to appeal to the larger emo-kid crowd. Raised Fist's newest disc, Sound of the Republic, lends a European's perspective on the changing scene. The Swedish quartet's first album in four years proves to be a worthy sucessor to 2002's Dedication, which reminded us all what hardcore is all about - speed, ferocity, and social awareness. This time around, you can feel more of a metal influence, which only re-enforces their tenacious song writing skills. Most importantly, though, SOTR revives the spirit of old-school hardcore, bands like Sick of It All and Agnostic Front, to remind us that this "emo-hardcore" phase is nothing but a passing fad.

I dont know if it is me, but I find that the begings of the song's are miss leading. They always introduce there songs with such power. But the vocalist just kills these songs for me. When I first heard screaming,(ie the used, finch, my chemical romance) yes i use to like them, but when i first heard screaming i could not except it. Bands like Manson, Lamb of god, even some Disturbed or Mastodon, I never would have seen myself listening to it. But as i grew up, I started to focus on the craftsmanship of songs. There timings, tunings, drumming, EVERYTHING. I realized then why these bands are great. I went from liking mainstream pop and "emo" (notice the quotations) to metal, even some death or black metal(what ever its called these days). The point I am trying to make is, I pick out what I like about songs and listen to them just for that, even if it is only played for 10 seconds twice in the song,even a short break down in the song, but with this band I cant get passed the sound of the vocals, sorry if I affend anyone, I mean no disrespect, but I think the band is awsome besides. Maybe to some, the singer is bringin something new to metal, but it does not hack it for me.