Customer Reviews

Vendetta

5 star:		(18)
4 star:		(11)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I, as a person who listens to a massive variety of music, was impressed with Throwdown's new CD. Pantera is one of my favorite bands, and in terms of metalcore/hardcore, Throwdown is one of my favorites as well. I liked Haymaker, but as a few reviewers said before, Dave was swearing left and right, and it seemed that by the time the CD was at track 10, you were already sick of it. It got really repetitive near the end, and the only reason that I listened to track 9-14 was to hear Raise Your Fist.

But with Vendetta, it's a whole different story. They've made a few lineup changes once again (it seems with every CD, their lineup changes) and with Vendetta, you get the same heavy band that provides brutal breakdowns and in-your-face riffs, but interlaced in each of the 11 tracks is a Pantera-esque kind of feel.. The vocalist, truth be told, sounds a bit like Phil Anselmo, the singer of Pantera.

1. We Will Rise - A great start to an amazing CD. This song doesn't pull any punches. When I first heard this song, I was very impressed with the new guitarist, particularly near the end, during the breakdown, where he incorporated this cool little riff into it. Very good song. 9.5/10

2. Speak The Truth - This track was the first I heard off of the CD. Very brutal track, and when Dave yells the chorus "SPEAK THE TRUTH!", it sends shivers down your spine. 9/10

3. Vendetta - My absolute favorite track on the CD. This song starts off with a fast riff and it just gets faster and crazier until halfway through, when what I think of as their most brutal breakdown. Amazing song. 10/10

4. Burn - The first single off of the CD, and the second song I had heard off the CD. The first couple of listens didn't do much for me, but after a few listens, it really stuck onto me. I thought this song was a little generic... It sounded like A LOT of the stuff that's out there today. Just the general setup of the song... but the chorus comes around, it makes up for the blandness of the song.. 8.5/10

5. Discipline - This song, at one point in time, was my least favorite on the CD, but I've listened to the CD quite a lot since I first bought it, and this is actually one of my favorites. I love the harmonics in the middle of the song by the guitarist. Very cool and very Pantera like. 9.5/10

6. To Live Is To Sacrifice - A nice heavy track that keeps a very up tempo throughout the entire song. A crazy, sick breakdown at the end and throughout the song. The lyrics are a bit... repetitive, but I liked the song. It kept me energized. 9/10

7. Give My Life - My second favorite song on the CD. I just love how the guitar pummels your ears every time you listen to it. The lyrics are very good... It seems Dave Peters has spent more time thinking about what he's writing. Very impressive song, with a crazy breakdown at the very end. 10/10

8. The World Behind - A very good song.. one of the weaker tracks on the CD, I think, but I love the chorus to the song. Howard Jones from Killswitch Engage guest stars in this (you can tell when his gruff, deep voice overlaps Dave's) 8.5/10

9. Shut You Down - A crazy song.. I didn't listen to this one too much when I first got the CD, but lately, it's been one of those songs that I keep on repeat for a few listens. A nice heavy track. 9/10

10. Annihilation(NWD) - This was, by far, my least favorite track on the CD. I thought that it ran on a bit too long, and also, it just was a lot more slower then most Throwdown songs are. It was an alright song, but it just didn't cut it for me.7.5/10

11. This Is Where It Ends - This song is under 2 minutes, but is still enough to get your blood boiling. Dave's lyrics are lined with hate, and the guitar and drums are just so insane, that you can't help but get up and jump around to it. Very great end to a GREAT cd. 10/10

All in all, i thought that this CD stands up much better then Haymaker.. Haymaker was good, but I thought it fell apart halfway through. This one stands strong throughout the whole thing.

I'm sure I'm not the first one to say this (and I won't be the last, either), but "Vendetta" is like Pantera meets Hatebreed. Some of the spiteful, caustic riffs echo Dimebag Darrell, but it's the singer's howls that really bring Pantera to mind. Vocalist Dave Peters switches off between Phil Anselmo-like shrieks and Hatebreed-esque bellows and shout alongs.

"Vendetta" may not be 100% new or innovative, and they may actually sound too much like Pantera and Hatebreed at times, but when the C.D. sounds this great, how can you complain? And Throwdown aren't one of those metalcore bands that sound like they have blatantly ripped-off somebody else's sound. Mixing old-school metal like Pantera with a modern, hardcore band like Hatebreed is actually a pretty original idea, too.

The album begins with "We Will Rise," which shoots out of the starting gate with a riff that vaguely sounds like a lawn mower, explosive double bass drumming, and a very Hatebreed-esque bellow of "We will rise!" Next comes "Speak the Truth;" a song cascading, slow buzzsaw riffs and a couple of Phil-y howls. My personal favorite song on here is the title track. It has thumping drums, and more scorching, sometimes machine gun riffs. Track four, "Burn," has another strong guitar lead, with pounding, stutter-stepping riffs and a long, extended yell near the end. "Discipline" has grooving riffs, fast drumming, and more Phil Anselmo-esque screams. "To Live Is To Sacrifice" features running, up and down riffs which turn to crunchy, fast chug and churn riffs. This song also includes a cool shout-along of "Fight!" "Give My Life" has more pounding riffs and a guitar solo even flares up, "The World Behind" has blindingly fast, machine gun riffs, and "Shut You Down" alternates between pounding/booming guitar noise and heavy, churning riffs. Then, track ten, "Annihilation (N.W.D.)," has a churning rhythm with cannon-fire double bass work. And the album closer, the appropriately named "This Is Where It Ends" plows straight ahead with more scorching riffs.

As aforementioned, this C.D. isn't 100% new or innovative, but it is 110% full of energy, raw aggression, and hooks. Throwdown may have arrived at the metalcore scene late, but I still recommend this album to all metalcore fans and metalheads in general, because this band is just as powerful and good as any other band out there today.

A side note: if you can't find "Vendetta" at your local record store, try looking in the "hardcore-punk" section, because that's where it was (for some odd reason) when I bought it.

this is gym music. this is ass kicking music. this is getting your head caved in music. this is a vendetta. now kill fred durst! this about as true as it gets for hardcore. honor, pride, and strength. this album is true and solid.

This CD is the Alpha Male of the Hardcore genre. Hardcore bands have been less than impressive for quite sometime. This release should be a turning point and a blueprint of what is to come, in Hardcore music. Everything less impressive than this, will be the same old cut and paste Hardcore.
The Pantera influence is here, "Vulgar" era, but that is what make this album so enjoyable. Well done! This bands deserves some respect, for this "5 star" album. There is not a dull moment on this Disc.

I was greatly saddened to hear the news that the only original member of the band, bassist Dom, had finally left Throwdown to focus on other things. just when the band had finally reached the moment and popularity they had always been struggling for, he decide to leave. Oh well................maybe he'll be back.
Anyway, throwdown have always been one of my favorite bands. Even though i am far from being straight edge, i still enjoy this band greatly. Their music is brutal and powerful, and you can really hear the anger and conviction in singer Dave Peter's vocals.
Musically, this release is a lot more reminiscent of pantera than any of their other releases. Whether dime's passing had something to do with this or not, i dont know. Acually, a long with A perfect Murder's "Strength through Vengeance", "Vendetta" made me sad, cuz it reminded me a little too much of pantera, and what once was, and what will never be again for that band.

I have yet to be dissapointed with anything by Throwdown, and this cd is no exception. I do think the sound has changed a bit, & I agree with a previous reviewer who said there sounds to be a Pantera influence. Anyone who has listened to alot of Pantera should pick up on that right off. Its one of the first things I thought when I heard it. Very Phil Anselmo sounding vocals. Not quite as "hardcore" as Haymaker. The vocals & guitars seem to have moved a little to the metal side of hardore, but like I said its still a great album & worth buying.

Picking up where "Haymaker" left off, "Vendetta" finds Throwdown adding some metal laced riffs with their hardcore rhythm, but don't put them in the category of "metal-core". Throwdown continues to pump out blistering beats and grinding guitars, while the lyrics are surprisingly superbly written. The production values are the best to be featured on a Throwdown album, and tracks like "We Will Rise", the title track, and "To Live is to Sacrifice" are straight ahead real hardcore cuts. It's definitely not for everyone, but for true hardcore fans, "Vendetta" is instant bliss, and along with the recent releases from Pro-Pain and hardcore legends Agnostic Front, this is one of the best hardcore albums to be released all year.

I bought Throwdowns last album, Haymaker, and i liked it, but it was missing something. Vendetta has what Haymaker was missing. Daves vocals are much better. He also isnt dropping the f bomb every other word which kinda got a little annoying on Haymaker. Also they added a little more metal to their hardcore which in my opinion, makes it a lot better. I havent been able to stop listening to this cd since i bought it. Its probably the best cd to pick up this summer even though everyone is saying Darkest Hours cd, Undoing Ruin is better (dont get me wrong Undoing Ruin is AMAZING,but Vendetta IS better).

The new Throwdown is amazing. While others have chosen to slam this release, it is, in my opinion, the best hardcore/metal album to come out in years. Granted, I am probably a bit biased from seeing Throwdown four times over the last two years, but this is what hardcore is all about. Crunching riffs...down-your-throat lyrics...pulvarizing drum beats...perfect. Get in the pit with this album - Throwdown will be supporting Lamb of God on the "Sounds of the Underground" tour all summer long, and I can't wait to see the new beatdowns performed live. And for all you nay-sayers, wake up. Throwdown is the new king of hardcore/metal. This album will absolutely punish your speakers.

I rarely post reviews. Yes this CD is outstanding, but really the reason I am posting this is because I met Throwdown while they were touring for this album in San Antonio. To set the scene, the pit was pretty brutal. I was still dripping blood from my nose after the show as I walked past Dave Peters and asked him to autograph a flier for a buddy of mine that was in the Navy and stationed overseas at the time. Throwdown was one of his favorite bands. Dave told me to hold on a minute, went and rounded up the other band members, and they ALL signed a personalized message to my friend on the blood-stained flier, thanking him for his service. If you've ever played a live show you know that it's draining, and tons of people are trying to compete for your time afterward. They didn't have to do that. Shows you the character of this band.

Some of you need to let Pantera die. Yes they influenced Throwdown, as every artist you loved growing up influenced you if you ever played an instrument. Those who really understand this can pick up on the influence, yet at the same time appreciate the uniqueness that this band brings. Fuhk the naysayers. Full-steam ahead guys!