The Always Open Mouth

Fear Before the March of Flames

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 19, 2006)
• Original Release Date: September 19, 2006
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Equal Vision Records
• ASIN: B000HDZKMI
• Also Available in: Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #133,672 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

About the Artist

Fear Before The March Of Flames has forged its own path regardless of the current state of music. Formed in July 2002, four young teens from Aurora, CO set out to create a unique and relevant sonic experience.

In their four years as a band, Fear Before The March of Flames have grown beyond all musical boundaries, and The Always Open Mouth is a testament to that. Having added three new members to the band, Fear Before experimented with new sounds that bring to mind Nine Inch Nails, Isis, and even Marilyn Manson at times.

Product Description

Rock music was meant to be an ever-evolving art form. Once and a while, an album comes along that changes the way people interpret music; Nirvana's Nevermind, Rage Against The Machine's Evil Empire, Refused's The Shape of Punk To Come, and now Fear Before The March of Flames' The Always Open Mouth.

The Always Open Mouth is an album that will restore faith in alternative music. It will make people remember that music was not meant to be a mass of copycat bands, but it was meant to push boundaries and reinvent itself.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars AbsolutePERFECT, September 22, 2006

By	Kenneth Brown "Dan Brown" (Vero Beach, FL USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Every once in a great while, a record comes out that is sure to redefine an entire genre - something that is so pure, so new, so revolutionary, that it reminds us what it truly means to challenge the status quo and be "alternative." Well my friends, the record I'm talking about is "The Always Open Mouth," by FEAR BEFORE THE MARCH OF FLAMES! This record is heavy, yet thoughtful - powerful, yet restrained. As one reviewer said, it "explores the gears, rather than flying full speed ahead." As a band matures and grows out of it's proverbial shell, it becomes necessary to change in order to set the standard. And for all those musical snobs out there (you know who you are), you might actually want to TRY accepting new music. Even if it sounds weird at first, that's part of what makes art ART. Expand your musical horizons, folks!

Anyway, bottom line is, if you give this record a few spins, you're sure to find THE ALWAYS OPEN MOUTH easily one of (if not THE) best record of the year, and not only that, but a record that stands alone as a career-defining masterpiece. In time, this record may become as important to me as Radiohead's "OK Computer," Poison The Well's "You Come Before You," or Pearl Jam's "No Code." This is essentially Fear Before's "A City By The Light Divided," or "Vheissu," or "Redeemer." Anyone noticing a pattern here? All these bands that have helped define a genre and a period of music are all branching out. Why are they all doing this? Because they're artistic and intelligent enough to recognize when a genre has become stagnant and needs electroshock therapy! Again, I urge everyone who is not only a fan of hardcore or punk rock, but ART in general, to pick up this masterpiece.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The Always Evolving Band [4.5 Stars], October 20, 2006

By	LeftManOut (TheCityThatNeverSleeps, FL) - See all my reviews

One thing which can be said about Fear Before The March of Flames (besides having an unbelievably cool name) is that three albums into their career, they've never made the same record twice. They've also always seemingly been ahead of their time. 2003's "Odd How People Shake" was an engaging mix of hardcore and indie, which to this day still shines as bright as the first time I heard it. It was something that not many other groups had touched upon at the time, having such energy, and yet a concept of atmosphere and attention to detail. In early 2004 FBTMOF released "Art Damage," an extremely chaotic and heavy record and something which took their sound in the area of artful noise shortly before most music become utterly fascinated with pushing their extremity to the brimming point. And now with 2006's "The Always Open Mouth," Fear Before have taken another huge step in the evolution of their sound. Adding three new members, a healthy dose of new influences and a new found interest in writing music, FBTMOF have made a brash, daring and experimental piece which is likely to be one of the oddest things you hear all year. Yet there's something undeniably charming about it.

While there still may be some standard hardcore/screamo fare in tracks like "Drowning The Old Hag" and "A Gift For Fiction," "The Always Open Mouth" is largely a giant departure from Fear Before of old. Now on some levels I'm disappointed since I really loved "Odd How People Shake" and "Art Damage," but on the other hand it's exciting and invigorating to see the band attempting these new feats. I'm not even sure how to describe the direction of this record. It's really all over the place. There's heavy moments, electronic portions, atmospheric bits, melodic hooks, and more often than not all these things might be found in the same song. "Taking Cassandra To The End Of The World Party" and "Ten Seconds In Los Angeles" just might be two of the best tracks with their experimental doses of electronics, downtuned guitars and driving rhythms. Not to mention the interesting take in the vocal department. I love how they went back to the trade off vocal style again, something which made "Odd How People Shake" so good. "Dog Sized Bird" seeps of NIN's influence with its sludgy rhythms and electronics, yet its clever lyrics and vocal distortion make the track strangely appealling. The more subdued tracks like "...As A Result Of Signals Being Crossed" and "My Deer Hunter" show exceptional experimentation, combining magnificent guitar playing, excellent effects and a nice mix of differing vocal styles, things which many bands would be unable to pull off in just one song. There just so much variety found on this disc that it's hard to find something which doesn't appeal. Now sure it helps to have an odd taste in music to begin with (which you have probably already aquired if you are a FBTMOF's fan), but it might not even be necessary once the album is listened to. There's just such a vast range of sound.

If you're depressed that Fear Before The March Of Flames Has tried something new with "The Always Open Mouth," don't be. This record is really a unique and exceptional stepping stone in their sound. I can always appreciate a band which is willing to throw caution to the wind and dare to make a album which will probably stand out like a sore thumb in fan's cd collections. One listen might not be enough to get you fully addicted to the album (it wasn't for me), but the more you listen, the more you discover, and in turn the more you will appreciate what is going on here. It's funny that this band always seems to be about a year or two ahead of what everyone else is doing in the music scene. Does this mean a year or two from now all the bands will be trying to sound like this? Probably not, but we'll have to wait and see. Until then I will continue to enjoy this oddly addicting record called "The Always Open Mouth," and you should too.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Perpetual Dropping Jaw, September 26, 2006

By	J. Frankenfield "truth addict" (Nowhere, TN USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Pardon my writing skills. This is the first album I've felt compelled to review. But that alone should say something about this album.

Let's face it, inspiration isn't easy to find these days. Every album is a copy of a copy. Your favorite band releases a CD that they swear is "much more evolved" than their last album, but it always ends up relatively the same.

Fear Before the March of Flames has certainly took the word "evolving" to new levels. The Always Open Mouth isn't merely evolved, it is evolving. With every listen you will find more and more to love about it. You most likely will not be able to grasp it on first listen, meaning it plays much better a hundred times than it does once. That isn't to say that it's a technical album (i.e. Dillinger, BTBAM), but it is very, very deep. It doesn't rely on odd time signatures and insane guitar riffs. Yet it remains one of the most complex ablums I've ever heard, with absolutely nothing to compare it to. It is an album that will surely stand the test of time, and will be very difficult to wear out.

But nothing I say is going to do The Always Open Mouth justice. You simply have to hear it, from start to finish, multiple times. If you give it time (and not much, trust me) it will grow on you. Anyone can like this CD. Everyone should. It feels largely significant at this particular point in our time. And if you haven't heard it, you won't even know what I'm trying to say with that statement.

This album lets me feel the world, the human condition at this moment. It is an alarm that people simply have to hear. Not that it will likely change anything, but an album like this gives me hope. Or at least it gives me the reassurance that not ALL the world is mindless zombies.

If you're an imaginitive person looking for something to support your knowledge that something is indeed wrong with our world, or if you are just a fan of brand new breakthrough amazing freaking albums, buy this right now, regardless of how much you think you like or dislike this band. If you're a hardcore kid who is looking for the next breakdown, don't even waste your time. You won't be practicing dance moves to this one.

Bottom line: This album is not to be taken lightly. Do not make the mistake of thinking it is a stupid album upon first listen. Give it time and it will give you inspiration that you just aren't going to find on the latest Norma Jean CD.