"Buried, Dead & Done." is the debut five-song EP from young Swedish metalcore band Walking With Strangers—as well as the first release from their label, Snapping Fingers Snapping Necks. Now, I don't generally care for this style so much these days, but this band has a Misery Signals-esque level of quality happening here, so it was hard not to take note. While there are definitely "modern" metalcore trappings present—vocals that shift from your standard harsh screams to over-the-top growls/squeals or even a little singing, massive chugging mosh breaks and super thick bass drops, etc.—there are also some fuckin' killer melodic surges that really kick the overall force of the songwriting up where I like it to be. They're crankin' out a ton of diversity in the riffing department, too—from the aforementioned meaty power chords and pulsing bass runs to tactfully groovy staccato rhythms, bursts of technical death metal, dissonant chord phrasings, chaotic hammer-on/pull-offs, and really cool dual guitar interaction scattered throughout. Top everything off with great production and nice design aesthetics, and you've got yourself a keeper. There's a ton of promise here, so I'll be looking forward to hearing what these kids unleash in the future.
Walking With Strangers "Buried, Dead & Done."
This one's only available digitally, and you can stream the entire EP at Last.fm. If you like what you hear, pick it up via the sources below (or iTunes if you live in Sweden)...
Get It
Amazon.com (mp3)
eMusic (mp3)
Comments
Nice! Really good stuff.
Check these guys out as well:
http://www.myspace.com/scarredbybeauty
2.10.2010 | By Christian
they do a bit too much on that song for my liking. it just sounds confused to me
2.10.2010 | By m
Couldn’t disagree with you more, m. I’m lovin’ this.
2.11.2010 | By Adrianoso
To my ears, this is above-average present-day kiddie metalcore, with all the usual flair: enviable musicianship (how the fuck do these kids today do it?) killed by inane lyrics. Just check out “The Provider”, you’ll fucking cringe. I know they’re “just kids”, but it’s a shame that this level of songwriting and skill isn’t rounded off with a more mature and meaningful subject matter. Whatever force the music possesses is gone once you start paying attention to the lyrics. The token “guttural vocals” have to go as well.
I think I’ll pass.
... And lock my door. ‘Cause they’re on their way home.
2.13.2010 | By Chris
WOW. Most of the lyrics look pretty standard fare, but that one song, holy shit. Awful. Possibly the worst lyrics I’ve seen in the last decade. I’m shocked. Had I looked at that before I wrote the post I definitely would’ve mentioned that mishap, ha, ha. I still like the band and all, but what the hell, I can’t even make sense of lyrics that atrocious…
2.13.2010 | By Andrew Aversionline
Chris: You should write reviews. I like what you wrote.
2.17.2010 | By Birkir
“I think I’ll pass.
… And lock my door. ‘Cause they’re on their way home.”
Ahhahahahahaha! Man, I never would’ve payed attention to the lyrics till you (Chris) mentioned it. I still like the music but those lyrics….damn…that’s just bad.
2.17.2010 | By Adrianoso
Thanks for the kind words, Birkir, but I never had those aspirations. And even if I did, until I can construct sentences like “thick pulses of bass and straightforward percussion lay the foundation for winding melodies and explosive surges of angular riffing”, I best just sit and watch, heh.
I only said something as I was genuinely bummed to see such blatant talent wasted on such jejune drivel. Sorry if I “ruined it” for you guys. I still like the music, though, and I love the force of the title track’s chorus and all, but fuck did those lyrics pollute it all for me like a piece of crap would pollute water. I felt bamoozled.
But I do wish the best for these kids (in case any of them are reading this and give a fuck). Once they grow into old farts like us and have something other to reflect upon than nights of Jäger, they should be all set.
2.18.2010 | By Chris
I think that one of the major “problem” of many music reviewers that thez never mention the lyrics. OK you have some exceptions like this site. I know I was ranting about this million times before. Maybe it’s the lack of time. Sure the most important thing is the music but (some) reviewers never pay attention to rest of the “package”. Maybe because they are reviewing mostly MP3s, dunno…
2.19.2010 | By Carlos
I don’t even talk about lyrics or packaging all that often anymore. Part of it’s lack of time, part of it’s that I do tend to review mp3’s these days, and also I just feel more and more that the main point is to keep it brief and let people check out a song or two and judge for themselves. I’m so rarely blown away by lyrics that it seems unnecessary to mention in a lot of cases.
2.19.2010 | By Andrew Aversionline
For all those who don’t have to search the lyrics:
“This one is for us
When you’ve emptied your bottle
With your face down to the ground
And the fucking thought of her
The girl that looked so good
By the bar, the best in your hood
Drunk as fuck, we enter the club
Bartender, what’s up? Give us more of that stuff
That makes our heads go FUCK YEAH! (FUCK YEAH)
Fuck that bitch tonight will be the night you just don’t give a fuck
So there is only one thing left to do
Drink your bottle of jaeger
Drink it all, your bottle of jaeger
I know you want her and you want her bad
So open up your wallet and make her glad
Oh shit
What a bitch she is
“
What a great rhyme:
“Bartender, what’s up? Give us more of that stuff”
It’s even more hilarious when you think about those videos where people are putting (fake) subtitles of what ther are hearing when listening to some (metalcore) song. There was once one video for one of Terror’s songs but I can’t find it today.
2.19.2010 | By Carlos
@Andrew: I know at what are you pointing but still better sometimes than ever. If you like the packaging you tell that. Still some bands have great lyrics but the reviewer completley destroys them because of music. I know that most of the people will only care about the music. Even I rarely read the lyrics. But still the bands should put some effort into this area…
2.19.2010 | By Carlos
Holy fuck. Worste lyrics ever.
7.4.2010 | By Bluh