Customer Reviews

Stabbing Westward

5 star:		(52)
4 star:		(37)
3 star:		(15)
2 star:		(15)
1 star:		(22)

 

 

Stabbing Westward has always held a soft spot in my heart because of some of the things they've done in the past, but I actually let this release slip by me for a while because I was afraid it would be much of the same and that's not what I wanted. Perhaps it was overexposure to the same products that made me think this, with too much industrial hitting the market and not soothing the soul, or perhaps I simply wasn't in the mood for that type of darkness in the moment. Sometimes that happens and sometimes you get tired of screaming into the emptiness, wanting something a little more touching because the anger eventually subsides. Whatever the reason initially, I recently acquired the need to look and see what I passed up, and what I let get by me was yet another evolution in a band that already audio taste anyhow.

One of the reasons quite a few people objected to this album was because it mellowed between releases and because the band went for slower ballads instead of anger. Perhaps the phrasing has been more akin to the words "selling out" and the criticism of that move said that this wasn't widely accepted, but that is a bit unfair and doesn't speak on the work itself. Instead, that speaks of set expectations by an audience that don't want a band to change, hoping to capsulate a little spark of feeling that most would tire of if they really thought on it. Good bands actually evolve as they move forward, putting out different types of music, because staying the same and trying to reproduce hits from the past isn't actually a form of expressional validity. Instead, that is what one would truly call selling out, terming it better with the words "buying in," and that's not what Stabbing Westward did at all.

There was a song or two on the album that I might go as far as to call electronic, with "television" using some odd background sounds as a beat, but most of these weren't actually motivated by a harsh beats. Instead, the music is more melodic than I expected, allowing Christopher Hall to use his voice and to use it well. This allowed for songs touching on themes like love and touching on them in ways that were sometimes beautiful and sometimes tragic, defying some of the restraints that other albums had. This isn't to say that the other albums were limited, mind you, but to instead say that songs like "I Remember" have sad themes that haven't been produced by Stabbing Westward like this before. Even though the themes of disappointment in songs like "Perfect" and "high" have occurred before, they take on new life herein.

I personally thought that this album had a little more regret in it than some of the other albums I've heard, with alot of the anger that the previous releases had falling by the wayside. Just check out the song "Wasted" to see what I mean. This piece, as a whole, sounded more like tracks motivated by regret and reflection, love and its hardships taking the driver's seat and asking questions many of us have oftentimes asked, and that seems to add another spectrum to Stabbing Westward's body of work. For that reason, I'd highly recommend it to Stabbing Westward fans that can stand the idea that some things can change and still remain the same, and I'd also tout it to others to at least sample. I'm actually happy I bought it.

I bought my first Stabbing Westward album after hearing a song I liked very much on the radio. I loved the album and proceeded to buy their other albums and genuinely enjoyed them as well. It's rare that I find a band where I actually listen to the entire album as opposed to just a select few tracks. Stabbing Westward was one of those few.

This latest album is such a departure from their previous albums that you likely would not be able to pick the music as being Stabbing Westward. For some that might be a good thing; for me it was very disappointing. After hearing the first few songs, I honestly checked the cd case to make sure I bought the right album.

As the reviewer above states, the music is very light. That can mean different things to different people, but, to me it sounded like "pop" music. To the extent that their previous music can be described as dark, heavy, loud- none of that is present on this album. I normally don't write reviews here, but I find that the majority of the music reviews are positive- to the point that it's really not helpful to judge whether I would like a particular album or not. I just wanted to let people know that if they buy this latest album expecting something along the lines of the previous Stabbing Westward albums they will likely be disappointed.

I will say that my rating is only intended to reflect that this is not what I wanted to hear when I put in a Stabbing Westward cd. If I could separate myself from that fact, I probably would have rated the album 3 stars as opposed to two.

For most bands, the self-titled album is a debut. Although Stabbing Westward is the group's fourth, it is also the debut of their new sound. With the departure of guitarist Marcus Eliopulos, a whole new dynamic has set in with the quartet that remains. The former industrial sound is almost gone; save for three of the ten tracks, all that remains of it is a faint flavoring in the background of what could be some of Live's heavier work. The new Stabbing Westward is dominated not by the fast, crunching guitars and pounding beats of old, but by clean acoustic or light electric guitars, light beats, and synthesizer sounds which no longer veer toward the electronic buzz of anger which has since dissipated. The rage of betrayal and unrequited love has worn itself down to melancholy loneliness. But this is certainly not the end of a good thing. The band may play differently now, but the lyrics are the same classic depression that all Stabbing fans know and love. Well, okay, maybe not completely. The song "Angel" is actually a drastic move - it's a happy love song. It has the aforementioned dark guitar jangling characteristic of Live or the Cure, but a chorus of "I've never been loved by an angel/ Until tonight, when your heaven filled my world." And the best part is, it works. Stabbing Westward have made a full turn on this song, and done a better job at it than some bands who do this sort of thing as their main shtick (see Lifehouse or any boy band for further clarification).

Unfortunately, it doesn't always work here. "I Remember," for example, starts with a nice acoustic guitar rhythm and somber background sounds, but loses some credibility with the almost whining bridge of "your kiss-ES, sweet kiss-ES." "The Only Thing," another alternative-sounding tune with that shadowy industrial tint, starts reaching into cliche territory with the chorus "You are everything I need/ You are the air I breathe." For a band not normally known to dip into such banality, this comes as a bit of a surprise; by the same token, though, this first mistake can still be deemed excusable.

The overall diagnosis: Stabbing Westward's new album is a move in a completely different direction, but it's still a good direction. Running the musical spectrum from fast acoustic melodies ("Perfect") to time-honored industrial guitar angst ("High"), and the lyrical spectrum from self-loathing and regret ("Wasted") to renewed and eager faith in the institution of romance ("Angel," "High" again), this disc could do to Stabbing what Sgt. Pepper's... did to the Beatles. A decade spent developing the raw sound of disappointment, beating it to perfection, and then a sudden change of course as soon as the end is in sight. Life is full of interesting surprises.

First off, it is not my opinion that Stabbing Westward "sold out" with their release of this CD. Yes, it is not nearly as dark, heavy, or somber. However, I have yet to hear any of their songs on the radio (I think they released "So Far Away"), so I wouldn't call this a desperate run for them to gain mass appeal. I would prefer to justify the change in music style to a gradual change in Christopher Hall's personna.

"Ungod" and "Wither Blister Burn & Peel" were outlets for the rage and hatred that Chris Hall felt for his ex. By "Darkest Days", my favorite SW album, the rage was still evident in some songs, but for the most part had dissipated. It was replaced by sorrow and desperation. By their self-titled album, it has been replaced with a feeling of acceptance. Acceptance that the relationship is over and that he can move on with his life.

As far as music goes, this is excellent stuff. Softer than previous works, yes, but actually a progression as far as the use of melody and rhythm. It is of my opinion that the band has progressed, and is currently exploring all of the limitless possibilities that exist for this talented band.

Will you agree with my synopsis? Maybe not, but I do urge you to give this CD a number of listens before you discard the band. It is still very emotional, just not as depressing as past works. Favorite songs include "I Remember", "So Far Away", and "The Air You Breathe".

When I heard the first Stabbing Westward album, "Ungod," I was blown away by its sheer intensity. SW's techno-industrial-goth-metal fusion was actually quite unique. Right off the bat, "Lost" grabs your attention with its dark, gothic lyrics, and the album just keeps going like a juggernaut from there.

"Wither, Blister, Burn & Peel" picks up the torch, but now there is some depth to the album. The radio hit "What Do I Have To Do" is a beautiful post-industrial piece with the first true example of the beautiful harmonies that this otherwise angry-sounding band was capable of.

Then came "Darkest Days." Although it did spawn a radio hit with "Save Yourself," the album felt disjointed, like they were trying too hard to hold on to the angst that fueled their first album. The balladry of "Waking Up Beside You" and "You Complete Me" so clashed with the dark, dank "Drugstore" and the mercifully short but pathetic noise of "Darkest Days" as to make the whole endeavor almost laughable. Although I myself did purchase this album, it soured me on SW so much that I waited a year to buy the last album.

And then rumors of a breakup started flying. In truth, Columbia Records declined to sign them on for future recordings, so the band was left without a label. After a bit of shopping around, they were approached by Koch Records and decided to sign with the smaller company. Realizing that they were tired of the angry industrial-metal that had marked their career, they brought in Suede producer Ed Buller to help them with their newer, lighter sound. The addition of studio guitarist Derrek Hawkins opened the doors to some very beautiful guitar work, and thus was born "Stabbing Westward," self-titled because the band considered it their "rebirth." This album showcases the soft side of SW that struggled so hard to show itself in the lighter moments of "Darkest Days" and "Wither." From guitar-driven ballads to synth-heavy laments, this album showcases the best of a grown-up metal band. The angst is still there, but the anger is replaced by a more wistful wisdom, a sense of "if I only knew then what I know now." A truly mature effort by a mature band.

And then they broke up. For real, this time. But fortunately, they didn't quit. Check out Chris Hall's new, L.A.-based band, The Dreaming. They have a track on the soundtrack for the movie "Elektra," called "Beautiful." Walt Flakus is now playing guitar with The Clay People, while Andy produces music for television.

Well, the day has come when one of the greatest industrial groups of all time have traded in their pounding electric guitars, synthesizers, sound effects, and heavy, dark beats for acoustic and lighter sounds. But is it necessarily a bad change? I would say no. There is no doubt that I am going to miss those heavy, dark moody songs from "Darkest Days" and "Wither Blister Burn & Peel", but Stabbing Westward has not lost their emotion and power, they've just changed their outlook and their viewpoint on the problems that their music discusses. While on the past three albums, Christopher Hall's lyrics have been full of hatred and rage for the women and two-faced people that have screwed him over in life, this album seems to be a bit more controlled, where Chris and the rest of the band have finally come to grips with life and what they've lost in it. And by the sound of it, they are ready to face the full reality of life and deal with it in a sane fashion. But this all seems to cause a great upset among many of Stabbing Westward's fans from the first three albums, bringing forth accusations that the band has "sold out" and lost their talent. These are nothing more than angry remarks from people who can't accept when a band tries something new. All of them need to face up to the facts that bands change their sound, their methods, and their outlooks. Because the group feels that anger, aggression, and dark songs no longer get their message across, they've tried a different sound to better express themselves. And frankly, all anyone has to do is listen to the lyrics on this album to know that this is NOT the work of a sellout band, and all the emotion is still there.

It is true in saying that most of the songs on here are soft, alternative, and acoustic. "Perfect", "Breathe You In", and "Happy" are still depressing songs, but with a lighter feel to them. One of the major, noticeable changes on this album from anything else of Stabbing Westward's work is that there are actually many positive love songs on here, such as "I Remember", "Angel", and "The Only Thing", which actually reflect that there is hope past the darkness these guys have faced in life.

Even with all of the more lightly textured, simpler tunes that have just been named, that doesn't mean there is no hope for a sound of the old Stabbing Westward, where an influence still remains. "So Far Away", while it may be a little radio-friendly, still makes for a great industrial song and single, and is definitely one of the better songs on here. Other, old-style songs on here are "Wasted" and pieces of track 9, titled "High". But the real clincher in darkness comes from the haunting, deep track, "Television", which easily competes with "Waking Up Beside You" from "Darkest Days".

So if you have an open mind and can accept that sometimes bands need to change their mood and sound, pick this up and give it a few tries. Although I didn't enjoy it much at first, it grew on me and I started to really get into the songs. But if all you expect from a Stabbing Westward album are dark songs from their first three discs, you may as well skip this and wait for another good band to come along so you can accuse them of "selling out".

I am not one of those people who feel a band should never experiment with their sound or evolve into something greater. Many bands and great musicians from the Beatles, Led Zeppelin, Metallica, Guns N Roses, Eric Clapton, Ozzy, The Stones to Aerosmith have all tinkered with their sound and winning formulas. By doing so they were able to broaden their fanbase and prove their depth as artists. Having your sound evolve does not mean you "sold out" as so many purists love to claim. Frankly, I prefer a band to try and grow because eventually their sound will become repetitive and irrelevant. However, not every band or musician has great success when they try to branch out. Neil Young and Garth Brooks are the most obvious; great at what they know (Rock and Country respectively) but awful at something else (New Wave and New Age).

Stabbing Westward is Industrial Rock. Hard, Heavy, Dark and Brooding. This is what they know and what they are best at. They don't always need to be angry to make a good song (Shame) but they are masters at dealing out that industrial edge (Save Yourself). To me they were always a Trent Reznor but with better vocals. What set these guys apart from other Idustrial Rock bands was that their guy could actually sing as well as belt out the angst which combined for a powerful visceral effect on the listener.

This new self titled album is something completely different. Now I have no problem with the band going in a new direction, "Darkest Days" was certainly their Zenith and would be hard to eclipse, but this CD is like when Neil Young tried to do New Wave...it just doesn't work. Not as a Stabbing Westward CD and not even as a stand alone CD. The songs sound very similar, the industrial edge is gone and at times they sound like a poor mans Days of the New (great acoustic band) or a wannabe Blink 182 (crappy pop-rock). The only track I like is "So Far Away", which sounds like a softer version of their older stuff. Other than that one song, every single other track is so far off from what the band used to be, or is seemingly trying to be with this release, a somewhat pop friendly rock band with an edge.

Neil Young tried something different and failed, so he went back to what he knew, Rock. Garth Brooks tried something different and failed, so he went back to Country. Both men are very talented and kudos to them for trying something different as musicians, but Stabbing Westward seemed like they were trying too hard to capture a pop audience with this one and fell flat on their face. They are very talented and should return to Industrial Rock and work with what they know. It has been almost a decade since Darkest Days, technology has changed and life experience has accumulated, the time seems right.

I do not recommend this album, certainly not to someone looking for that Stabbing Westward experience. This is not a bad album, just entirely mediocre.

This is the album that got me into the wonderful music experience that is Stabbing Westward. I remember the day I got it, I had my mom listen to it and when she went up to pay for it, she told the cashier "Quick, before he decides to get something that's screamy and hard!" Jokingly, of course. This album, though definitely softer than all their other efforts, contains just as much amazing artistry.

Christopher Hall is a magician with his voice and that is obvious with every song. His voice is the most important instrument in this release, I think. Just the range of emotion he manages to convey is amazing. His voice truly shines on this album.

Though not the hardest, and in my opinion, not the best Stabbing Westward album, you would be missing out if you didn't own it. To the person that said "If you're a real fan, you'll be disappointed," this band is my favorite, and I wasn't disappointed, even after hearing the earlier releases.

Everyone should also check out Christopher Hall's new band, www.thedreamingonline.com

A one star rating may seem a little drastic. I wouldn't necessarily call this bad music. It just isn't my kind of music, and it certainly is nothing like prior Westard releases. Looks like a classic case of the "sellout" to me. The band looked at all of those other "alternageneric" bands out there making mega bucks with their bland pop drivel and said "Hey we can make that kind of music". Well they succeeded. This is as fine a group of meticulously crafted pop songs as your going to find. The problem is that unless their lucky enough to get airplay and a big hit from the collection, they may be finished as a band. If they don't get that big hit that can introduce them to the "alterna-pop" loving fans, they won't sell any records at all. Any of their previous fans who get a chance to here or read about the new record are not likely to buy it. Most pop music fans out there are unlikely to buy it based on the band's prior musical reputation. The end result could easily be a failure to reach a new audience while completely alienating there existing fan base.

The band has definitely taken a different approach to creating this album. If you were to listen to Ungod and then this CD, it would be hard to find obvious similarities. On the one hand, thats good since its indicative of the band's maturity/evolution. On the other hand, this is not Darkest Days #2.

DD was hard hitting industrial of extreme quality - beating both NIN and Gravity Kills (the two main competitors). This album on the other hand takes a stylistic change - imagine some of the old SW mixed with the Cure and Depeche Mode. In other words, slower, a bit less angry, but depressing nonetheless. It keeps amazing me how different this is from Ungod - while Ungod/WBBP was an immense amount of synth with amateur vocals (and some guitars, yes), this CD shows Chris' great singing ability (similar if not better thatn DD). There is an acoustic in the background of almost every song; the music just feels lighter, nostalgic and less agressive.

Its Stabbing Westward, so the quality is superb and the songs are good. But this album seems to lack some of the energy on the previous releases. Also, the lyrics seem to suffer - after 3 albums about divorce/pain/women its hard to come up with something earth shattering. But there are some obvious cliche low points ('I've never been in love with an angel before', The brain of my soul is hurting or something of that sort). Its a good solid CD nonetheless, one that you can listen to throughout.

If you like Stabbing Westward and the Cure - get this CD. If you like Stabbing Westward and Spineshank - listen before buying.