Society's Finest
When Society’s Finest’s EP Love, Murder, and a Three Letter Word came out back in June of 2004, it was my honor to review it for this very magazine. The EP was a long time coming: Before that, Society’s Finest had put out two split CDs, an EP, and a full-length on Pluto Records, solidifying a fan base just before having to abruptly put it on hold in 2003 while singer Joshua Ashworth toured with Zao. When they reformed with the current line-up after that hiatus, that EP was already hotly anticipated. In the review, I mentioned that the band was obviously working some kinks out, but that if they got it together, the full-length would be stellar. And it is. They certainly got something together, put it in any number of torture devices, and then spit it out on the other side. It’s faster, more menacing, louder. The CD drops immediately into the barrage of metal, like jumping off a cliff where you don’t hit bottom until the end of the CD. The first two tracks are solid, but for some reason – in a good way – leave the listener wanting more. Some builds don’t climax in a crazy breakdown as one would expect them to, but some would commend this. However, because it makes the first three tracks feel like an extended build, when one of the best breakdowns on the CD hits in the fourth track, “One More Kiss,” it gives you chills. Whatever it was that these Texas and California kids took before making this record needs to be shared among some of the discouraging metal clones in the world. Whether it was help from producer Andreas Magnusson (of Black Dahlia Murder, Scarlet, and Gods fame), or the time off that pushed them to the limit, you could barely ask for more from a reformed band’s first full-length in years. Key tracks: “Cutters, Oh Cutters,” “One More Kiss.” [Hand of Hope] David Stagg
This album review was originally published in the May/June Issue (#119) of HM Magazine. Order the Print Version now to read tons more album reviews.
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Comments
By Bob
They arent Christian!!! they cruse
they are SECULER!!!!
By Morten
who are we to judge our brothers ?
By Dan Van Metal
maybe you should learn how to spell
By Dan Van Metal
Bob
By matthew
Yeah they are Chriatian! they came to my church for a concert with becoming the archetype. Oh yeah take a spelling class...
By Sam
Maybe he knows how to spell, but not how to type. Back to the subject. How does cursing make you a non-Christian?
I'm confused.
Sam
By Jonathan
christian, secular, whatever... who cares. the fact is, my experience with working with the band is that they are jerks who consider themselves "metal" but still wear girls jeans and care more about their looks than their music (which compaired to the others on the tour i.e. becoming the archetype is bland at best).
so before you look at someone's religion or views, look at what type of a person they are. i experience more "non-christians" who represent christ better than any church goer i know (including myself).
but the point is, the band is not that good at all.
By Josh
have you ever sworn in your life, Bob?
my guess is yes.
have you lied? cheated? stolen?
yes?
then you are not a christian according to your view point
By Philip
I like this album, but i have a really hard time getting over the GD bomb in 'Nebraska.' I can see no justification in using this phrase, ever.
