Reviews
I expected a lot out of this release. When you're talking about Ferret Records, you have a certain standard you want to hold albums to. I mean, this is the same label that put out bands like Killswitch Engage, Maylene and the Sons of Disaster, Misery Signals, Twelve Tribes, etc. Needless to say, Ferret knows a good melodic metal/hardcore band when they see one. So I figured hell, Ferret picked them up, must be good. I was let down. If that wasn't enough of a build up, the album was produced by hardcore and punk rock legend Brian McTernan (Snapcase, Cave In, Thrice, etc.) and Paul Leavitt (All Time Low, The Bled, etc.). You'd think they were going to be the next big thing, but no. The Life I Know is the debut album from this Indianapolis, Indiana band, and it doesn't really leave a good taste in your mouth for future offerings.
What really irks me is that they've got some solid sections of songs, it just seems like they couldn't put them together to form tracks that were notable all the way through. For instance, the melodic bits of "The Path to Certainty" are great, the combination of the singing vocals of bassist Brent Schindler and the lead screams of Cole Wallace were stellar, not to mention that they that they've got a really outstanding guitar tone for their melodies. But how do they follow up that song but with the chugga chugga wanna be metal band disaster that is "I Was Born With Two First Names". Step it up guys, you show potential, then you poo poo on it. What gives?
Throughout the album, Gwen Stacy bombards you with impromptu breakdowns, heavy discordant riffs, some Every Time I Die-esque riffs, and some melodies (that are too few and far between). Imagine something like a less technical Scarlet mixed with a band like The Devil Wears Prada. Some you may be wetting yourselves, but for others, you probably had the same response I did, "eh". If they'd switch to being more of a Beloved style hardcore band, Gwen Stacy would be excellent. Hell, if they'd just stay away from some of the heavier riffs, they'd be a lot better. They're at their best with "The Path to Certainty", "If We Live Right, We Can't Die Wrong" and "The Fear in Your Eyes", the melody heavy tracks. Cole Wallace's vocals are much more suited for that style. In fact, they remind me a lot of the singer from Means, Dylan Johnstone, during the more melodic chunks, which is good because that dude has got a wicked vocal style. Gwen Stacy's debut just didn't do it for me, let's see what their next effort sounds like.
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