Comments
Stand Your Ground
Open Eyes and Beating Hearts
When I first checked out this new release from Harvest Earth, I thought the title read “Open Eyes and Bleeding Hearts” – thinking “Good Lord, this is going to be one of those ‘cut my wrists and black my eyes’ bands… Enter “Coup de Main” with distinct, dirty hardcore riffs that jump straight into a breakdown with accompanying chants “We will rise! We will fight! Fight to the death!” As far as classic “hxc/screamo” goes, Stand Your Ground is at the top of their game, with enthusiasm evident in each track (including two beautiful instrumentals) as the CD crescendos to the climactic “A Final Step” and then concludes with unique, drum-machine laden, “A Call to Perseverance”. Stylistically blending near-violent vocal extremes with sweet, melodic accompaniments, Open Eyes and Beating Hearts sufficiently reflects the sum of its genre. That said, it may prove to be a somewhat benign means to the end, as you have heard this before, and you will hear it again. [Harvest Earth] Levi Macallister
This album review was not printed in the November/December issue (#134) of HM Magazine, and thus is an online exclusive. Order the print version of this issue online or find this issue on newsstands. If you're a subscriber, you get a free online/digital subscription with your print subscription. You can purchase a single online/digital edition (which includes access to back issues) for only $1.99. A one-year digital-only subscription can be had for only $6.
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