Released: Aug 17, 2010
Genre: Metalcore
Label: Rise Records
Number Of Tracks: 10
After elaborating on this album, you will not find it uncommon to think back to As I Lay Dying's newest album.
Monument
Reviewed by:
mpastrick, on august 19, 2010 3 of 4 people found this review helpful
Sound: As a follow up to Apologies are for the Weak, their new CD has made all improvements possible. The opening track, "Our Kings" kicks off with fast, heavy riffs that distinguishes the bands unique sound. BJ Stead and Justin Aufdemkampe(the two guitarists) have continues the same melodic style that gives an overall deep impression with very out of the ordinary play. Their utilization of breakdowns does not by any means follow the "breakdown steryotype." Levi Benton(Lead Singer) and Ryan Neff(Bass/Clean Vocals) have added a much more epic feel to the singing in the record. The clean vocal tracks are a great contrast to Levi's deep growls and heartpounding screams. And there is not much to say about the drums. Except Jerod Boyd(Drummer) has done it yet again. Another record flawless and clean with incredibly fast beats that no other band matches. // 9
Lyrics and Singing: The songs in the record seem to follow a concept feel, without being a concept record. Many of the lyrics have deep, double meanings that express emotions towards the outlook of society and how he feels among it. Levi's voice has much improved from the last record. While still following the same style, he seems to push his boundaries. With many fans thinking he had blew his voice out from live shows, he has definelty come back with a slap in the face. Ryan's vocals have become more uniform and icreased in ability. He is now pushing higher notes even he thought he could not. With additions to the album such as his first solo song in terms of vocals, "In Recognition," he seems to be doing quite well. // 9
Impression: After elaborating on this album, you will not find it uncommon to think back to As I Lay Dying's newest album. "Masses of a Dying Breed" shows the fast progressive licks that make Metal bands great. Also hearing a bit of a Killswitch Engage style was surprising. This album is as metal as metalcore gets in terms of style. If you are looking for the heaviest end of this album, songs such as "Creation," "Gears," "Answers," and "Rust" should not fail to please. They still have the underground feeling the band has fortunetely yet to lose. So far, I love the fact that this band has changed and stayed for the better. They have not changed due to any commercial success and keep on pushing the term "hardcore" to newer hights. The only thing I dislike about it is the fact that the songs do not include guitar solos. Which is a downside, but they can still do without. But overall, I could not stand to lose this album. // 10
Monument
Reviewed by:
Mahino, on october 14, 2010 0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Sound: This album is the best metalcore album I have heard in a long time, probably the best I have ever heard... So I'm just gonna do a song-by-song review:
01. Our Kings: such an powerful opener to this great album, and strong lyrics. The breakdown at the end is very original, I have never heard anything like it, it just puts a smile on my face evrytime I hear it (:
02. Masses Of A Dying Breed: the intro may seem soft, but this song is anything but soft, it will kick your ass with the breakdown, while Levi screams the powerful words ''Your only making a fool of yourself!''
03. Answers: it's funny how this song is called ''Answers'' while the lyrics are all questions. Sick song, nothing more to say.
04. Relentless Chaos: this song has such an nasty breakdown, it's like really heavy and then it kind of continues into an even heavier one, really good job. Rest of the song is great as well.
05. Creations: this song is cool, but not very special, nice guitar riffs, nasty breakdown and good lyrics.
06. Gears: this is DEFINATELY my favorite song on this album, the intro is sooo good, the clean vocals are totally perfect and the breakdown is very nice! You should definately check this song out!
07. Colossal: nasty as hell breakdown in the intro, and insane double bass in the breakdown later on in the song.
08. We Have Fallen: this song is also VERY good, it has the best lyrics and they totally fit every part of the song!
09. In Recognition: this is the first Miss May I softy song, I personally don't like soft songs by metalbands, because they're not very good at it ;p but this one is okay...
10. Monument: this is the self-titled song, so you would expect it to be great, well it's not great at all... IT'S FREAKING INSANE! The ending breakdown, which is also the ending of this album (if you don't have the special edition) is so insanely good, every instrument plays a very special part in this breakdown, you can hear al kinds of sick vocals, insane dive bombs on the guitar, very heavy low bass lines and ground pounding drums, a perfect ending for an perfect album.
11. Rust (Special Edition): if I am right, this song has the first MMI guitar solo in it, for the rest this song isn't very special (they do sing about COD:MW2, which is pretty funny) there is a guest vocal in it, by Bleeding Through, but I don't like that at all! because of the overused swearing he uses, it's just a bit of a fail, because MMI almost never swears, but still have very strong lyrics!
The sound quality is perfect on every single song as well! // 10
Lyrics and Singing: These lyrics are totally amazing! Levi sings about almost anything you can imagine, but I personally think het uses too much metaphores.
There mainly are 4 kinds of vocals on this album, all mixed together: You offcourse have the clean vocals (Ryan Neff, Bass), the very high pitched screams, the mid range screams/shouts and the very low and deep growls, wich is love the most.
Almost every song has a catchy breakdown sentence, like:
01. Our Kings: Go back to your hell!
02. Masses Of A Dying Breed: Your only making a fool of yourself!
03. Answers: Where are the answers?
04. Relentless Chaos: All your words have fallen to the ground, where they belong!
05. Creations: See what I see!
06. Gears: The feeling of being machines, created for you!
07. Colossal: This force creates giants of nothing!
08. We Have Fallen: This entire world will become invisible!
09. In Recognition: LOL
10. Monument: Untouchable to all! Behold our monument!
You will find yourself screaming these sentences along with Levi very fast if you're listening for while. // 10
Impression: This album is much better than Apologies Are For The Weak and even that album was INSANE! Songs you should definately check out: Gears, We Have Fallen and Monument! It's not just my opinion, a lot of people out there say this album is the freaking best they have ever heard, so if you didn't already buy it, go and get it RIGHT NOW! // 10
To me this band is one of those bands where I find like one or two good songs on the album and forget the rest, last time it was "Tides" and "A Dance With Aera Cura" (sp?). They're kinda monotonous seems like they got a formula for making songs and they rarely stray from it. They do show some growth as musicians but nothing too special. On a side note, this review could've used a bit of proofreading...
To me this band are really only one of the unique metalcore bands. I Don't know what it is but they sound fresh or something new unlike all the other kind of recycled metalcore.
To me this band are really only one of the unique metalcore bands. I Don't know what it is but they sound fresh or something new unlike all the other kind of recycled metalcore.
See, people keep telling me the same thing, but I don't see it. Its pretty decent, but it doesn't seem any different to me. Am I missing something?
They're good for what they do. But I really wouldn't say they're anything original. They've got their own sound, but all of their songs really do sound too similar, and the guitars rely way to much on going from the VI to the V. Like they have that in every riff in every song.
Good stuff. YET IM SAYING THIS KNOWING WHAT THEY ARE. I agree, theyre not anything original, theyre like the hundreds of other post hardcore or whatever you esnt to call it bands out there (if you genre nazis attack me, i swear..) but even if they are original, they do what they do, better than alot of other bands that they have similar playing styles to.
To me this band is one of those bands where I find like one or two good songs on the album and forget the rest, last time it was "Tides" and "A Dance With Aera Cura" (sp?). They're kinda monotonous seems like they got a formula for making songs and they rarely stray from it. They do show some growth as musicians but nothing too special. On a side note, this review could've used a bit of proofreading...
Yes, I understand. I was in a hurry to get this submittted and had no time to proofread or have someone else proofread. Sorry to everyone for the grammatical errors.
To me this band are really only one of the unique metalcore bands. I Don't know what it is but they sound fresh or something new unlike all the other kind of recycled metalcore.
See, people keep telling me the same thing, but I don't see it. Its pretty decent, but it doesn't seem any different to me. Am I missing something?
Hmm I may check this out. I heard their cover of the hip-hop song "swing" i dug it. I saw them live though with emmure, terror, after the burial, and thick as blood. Out of all of those bands, i felt miss may i performed the worse.
I guess I got a little turned off by that. Then again, it is kinda hard to be stuck playing between thick as blood and after the burial two AMAZING bands. Its tough to stand out with that...
04. Relentless Chaos: this song has such an nasty breakdown, it's like really heavy and then it kind of continues into an even heavier one, really good job. Rest of the song is great as well.
A "heavy" breakdown and then another breakdown followed by...a breakdown and SCREEEEEAM and a breakdown and then the "rest" of the "song" goes on.
I think Monuments is a lot better than their other CD. I'm blanking on the name... I want to say Apologies Are For the Weak, but I'm thinking that's the EP...
I think Monuments is a lot better than their other CD. I'm blanking on the name... I want to say Apologies Are For the Weak, but I'm thinking that's the EP...
Apologies Are For The Weak is their previous album, their EP was called Vows For A Massacre
Ugh, haters gonna hate...Miss May I deliver on so many levels, whether it be the guitar licks or the amazing vocal work. Just enjoy what they do or refrain from posting the pointless flaming.
A girl tried to get me into this band, couldn't get into it to be honest. Can't help but feel the cookie cutterness of the vast majority of these "core" bands.
I like this band. Not live, and not Ryan's autotuned singing, but the records I like. I'm not even really sure why I do, but I find them a bit more listenable than other metalcore bands. They're not metalcore gods or anything, but I do enjoy them.
04. Relentless Chaos: this song has such an nasty breakdown, it's like really heavy and then it kind of continues into an even heavier one, really good job. Rest of the song is great as well.
A "heavy" breakdown and then another breakdown followed by...a breakdown and SCREEEEEAM and a breakdown and then the "rest" of the "song" goes on.
