Rise and Fall - Faith Album Review
With this album, Rise and Fall show that this is a way of life, and to find it is more than a virtue, it’s a gift.
rating: 4
Facebook: www.facebook.com/riseandfall13 Website: www.riseandfall.org Released: March 20th Rise and Fall have been a favourite with hardcore fans for years now and not just with scene hardcore kids; true, elitist hardcore fans enjoy a bit of the filth and no-frills sound that the band possess, too. The band have built their sound on the continuous, hereditary, anarchistic influence of Black Flag; the sheer, stark, uncompromising noise of Converge; the sludge-drone, murky ambience of Neurosis and the evil, snarling tones of Entombed, amongst others. As is imaginable with influences such as these, Rise and Fall have a towering sound that shakes and rattles and then finally explodes out of its confinement: making for a whole different experience for the listener than the average hardcore band. Its only fitting then, that a band who have the ability to plot the next chapter in the story of hardcore/punk are signed to the infamous Deathwish Records, home to other stalwarts and game-changers in the punk/hardcore/metal circuit such as Converge, Trap Them, Touche Amore, Integrity and Ringworm amongst a whole lot more. Their newest album, Faith, continues in much the same vein as the bands other releases, in the sense that its in-your-face, passionate and heavy, but layered with different concepts. This time around, the band explore faith and fate, nature and nurture and life and death. Concepts which make this album not only a deep, intelligent listen but also a listen which allows the listener to really delve into each song and comb through vocalist Bjorns vocals, while still nodding their head to the dark, satisfying, concise riffs which tear and claw at each set of lyrics, while the drums collide, pummel and finally conjoin with the bleak, eerie, gritty sound in front of them. The first track, A Hammer And Nails, begins with dark, gloomy chords which are eaten away by discordance dripping with sinister intentions. Add to this amalgamation of cruel noise the raging vocals of Bjorn and youre left with just over a minute of breathless, relentless hardcore thatll pound you and leave you reeling but gasping for more. Things Are Different Now has a hazy, strident riff that hovers behind the barks and screams of Bjorn. The bass-line hammers away and drills into the introverted ambience, finally jamming the nails in when it breaks free and pounds its dark tones into your ears as feverishly as the drums are bellowing out like some restrained wild animal that just wants to be let loose. Baring its teeth as you peer in for a closer look, then snapping at its metal bars. The unpredictable melody of the riff surprises you as it delves into explosive dirges, making the vocals sound even more anguished. Hidden Hands starts with a dirty, festering bass-line which allows a menacing riff to rove in which takes an unexpected, although pleasing turn when it dissolves into a pretty impressive solo. The all-encompassing sound still grinds its way underneath the solo, though, and the track is quite possibly the heaviest, darkest on offer. The groove this track embalms its body in is one thats akin to being strapped to a train and being dragged for miles. It lashes at your throat and lets go just as everythings about to go blank. This will be a favourite with fans who prefer the punishing, unrelenting aspect to the bands sound. http://youtu.be/DXxehs4kwC8 The final track, Faith/Fate, grows and morphs throughout, creating a rhythmic, hypnotic flow which carries and holds you. Stripping its layers away all the time, the track ends as bare and as personal as possible: with the heartbeat of Vinces (bassist) newly-born daughter. Its not only a metaphor, its a meaning. Its not only music, this verges on art. The fusion of these make the final track something truly unique and memorable, something that you very rarely hear on many hardcore albums today. With this album, Rise and Fall show that this is a way of life, and to find it is more than a virtue, its a gift. Its an album that shows why theyre held in such high-esteem and behind its dark, heavy doors lies a deep well of textured, clever lyrics that nudge you into listening while the doors slam shut. This is an album that will definitely be up there with the best of the hardcore contenders come the end of the year.