Apparently Six Feet Deep was relatively significant/influential in the early christian hardcore scene, which was news to me, and back in the day I actually never even really knew this band was so far into the whole christian thing for a long time, I guess because I had been somewhat lazy about paying attention to some of their lyrics. And no, I'm not into that stuff, nor am I a fan of "religious" hardcore (or metal, or anything), but if I'm gonna listen to Deicide and countless death/black metal bands spout off a bunch of satanic nonsense that I don't give two shits about (not to mention legends like the Bad Brains, or all those krishna hardcore bands, among which you could arguably include one of my all-time favorites, the Cro-Mags), I see no reason not to listen to badass bands who happy to have lyrics pertaining to Jesus or whatever. So... yeah. Point made. Thus ends my discussion of that aspect of Six Feet Deep's background. (Okay, almost, I think I'll end up mentioning it one more time, but such is life...)
Six Feet Deep was formed in the early-90's in the Cleveland-ish area of Ohio, and many Integrity/Clevo hardcore fans probably remember them for their track "Angry Son" on the "Dark Empire Strikes Back" compilation in '94 (see below as a bonus, that version of the song fucking kills). "The Road Less Traveled" was their second and final full-length for R.E.X. Records, released in 1996 right around the time the label apparently went out of business, thus kicking off the unfortunate dissolution of the band. While their early work was more "chugga" oriented, and that angle was maintained to some degree herein, these songs were much more melodic and developed, and I always loved the shit outta this album, which was my first real exposure to their work (I only grabbed a used reissue of their first record off of Amazon.com a few days ago!). I assume I originally picked this one up because of that track on "Dark Empire Strikes Back", but I honestly have no recollection whatsoever of how I stumbled onto this record, because I don't think it was really carried by any smaller hardcore distros or anything back then. I really just can't recall.
But whatever the case, something about the songwriting always seemed perfectly balanced to me. There's a lot of meatiness to the guitars, with just the right amount of subtle groove and chug to the rhythms, the hardcore influences are rarely obvious, but the metal-based riffing isn't overly blatant or anything either, the melody is occasionally up front but never straddles that "pseudo emo" line that so many bands were walking at the time (although I never really thought that was a bad thing), the vocals sound pretty unique... I don't know, it's just a great fuckin' record. Even the "ballad", "Broken Tree", complete with chorused clean guitars and singing, is just an incredible fucking song—even if its lyrics are what originally tipped me off to the band's, ummm, "leanings", what with some line about "in Christ..." something or other. But still... awesome fucking song, seriously. Great music is great music, that's all there is to it, and this band was always severely underrated in my opinion. I'm guessing that a lot of the people who read this site aren't going to be too familiar with this album, and if that's the case, hopefully some of you will appreciate it. This shit totally stands the test of time, in my opinion.
Six Feet Deep "Purify"
Six Feet Deep "More in Sorrow..."
And, for the aforementioned bonus, from the " Dark Empire Strikes Back" compilation:
You can't get this one for a penny either (Two in a row!?), but you can get it for less than a buck, so... I highly recommend it. Highly.
Get It
Amazon.com
Amazon.com (a later pressing, in case the cheap prices at the first link run out)
Comments
Six Feet Deep was the first band I ever saw play live.
I was more into the first record than “A Road Less Traveled,” but great band, nonetheless.
2.22.2008 | By Jeremiah/Dead City
I had never heard that version of “angry son” either, thanks for posting that up.
2.22.2008 | By Jeremiah/Dead City
Not bad.
It may take a couple listens until I can make out what he’s singing, but as long as it isn’t all Bible-thumbing, praise God, Jesus loves you kind of stuff, it’s okay by me. Just as I don’t care for that blatant and hateful anti-Christian, fuck Jesus stuff, there’s plenty of “Christian” music I can’t really tolerate. There’s nothing that says a Christian band has to be all about happy, positive and peaceful stuff or that every song has to be based on scripture, prayer or worship.
2.22.2008 | By Dichatomy
Much better than I remembered. This is one of those bands that I listened to because it was the next-best-thing to whatever secular music my parents wouldn’t let me have. Which is kinda funny, because the reason I initially got into punk was that christian hardcore was equally as popular and accessible as christian yo-metal.
2.22.2008 | By Bangtown Gansta
Man you beat me! I was going to make a full review/info post on Six Feet deep in a few weeks… haha
but yeah they where totally underrated for their time eve coming from Cleveland, such a great band.
2.22.2008 | By Lee Action
wow, that’s a long trip down memory lane. like bangtown, I had limited metal exposure when i was into these guys, but this album is one of the few to have survived The Massive Purge of Christian Albums when I moved out (along with Scatter’d Few, Circle of Dust, Living Sacrifice, and Tourniquet). It’s pretty rare that I’ll pull the album out, largely because of the lyrical content, but it’s always enjoyable.
2.22.2008 | By adam
lolz, i remember seeing this band with legions of shitty regional bands when i lived in cleveland (such as L.I.G.H.T. and brother’s keeper). they were pretty good, and i like a lot of christian bands like Believer and Unashamed although i’m the farthest thing from a christian. but the real problem was their fans. every JNCO-wearing cleveland mosh wigger from lakewood to mentor loved this band and that kind of ruined their shows for me.
2.23.2008 | By sergeant d
I remember Six Feet Deep playing here years ago and to tell you the truth, I thought they were pretty average. The most interesting part of the show was Todd from Propaghandi (at the time he was in I Spy…I think) pretty much having a religious war with the members of SFD. I think Todd was decked out in full metal gear that night (pretty sure there were studded wrist bands) and I remember hearing the word “fuck” used by Todd approximately every three to four words (which actually makes people sound less intelligent when you’re trying to get your point made). Didn’t really hear the entire discussion…didn’t care. For further clarification on this, contact Todd, but I do have to say the whole situation was kinda funny (especially when you’re hammered).
2.23.2008 | By Dan
you always review all these records from my youth, i found this album/band through dark empire and the singer and a few other members other band brandston they put out an awesome post hardcore ish kind of record like by a thread before they existed i think record on deep elm records and then turned to bland late nineties emo. the singer also used to do a record label called standfast i think.
2.23.2008 | By el
There’s an old album by a band called Overcome called “Immortal until their work is done” which is also christian but worth checking out.
One of my favorite hard core albums.
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2.26.2008 | By Saibot
I’m pretty sure I saw these guys play in Syracuse at one point, but I couldn’t tell you who they played with. I remember liking them.
2.28.2008 | By Will
I cut my teeth on Clevo hardcore 1993-94; Having to ask for rides from Medina to the Canton Y, Peabody’s or Brooklyn Y for shows. Luckily I knew the dudes in Anguish and they’d usual give me a ride. I totally forgot about this record. I can’t stand Christian preaching - yet I am tolerant of Krshna - but this band was so good for that time that I looked past it. These dudes used to be the JNCO kings of Clevo hardcore. Mind you Integrity is and will forever be the kings of Clevo, I thought SFD were on the cutting edge for the era. They had slowed down hardcore, and were playing the quintessential chug-chug of the era (ie. snapcase who I listen to this very day). I don’t know why they never took off, maybe the Christian thing. Eh, maybe a harmonic or two and they would have had a 4-record deal with Victory.
2.29.2008 | By xE1x