- Apr 5, 2003
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40 Below Summer - The Last Dance
Crash Music - CMU61186 - Oct. 31st, 2006
By Brandon Strader
Hailing from the steamy depths of New York, 40 Below Summer present their third album, The Last Dance, amongst cries that they're "not nu-metal!" Usually when popular bands make such a claim, it is almost always false. In this case, it is partially true, yet the brutal screaming of the vocalists and the chuggy guitar work overthrow the catchy clean vocals and short, radio-like song structures. If that wasn't enough, you'll also have the percussion to affirm the fact that the band aren't a nu-metal band, as the double-bass begins to roll like a bowling ball towards the big white pins, which I guess represents the bandmembers - especially that bald one.
Songs like "5 Of A Kind" display a more catchy type of rock you would expect to hear on the radio, but the band still incorporate the occasional scream and heavy riff into the song. The vocalist singing 'so f**k you' in such a pleasant clean vocal performance is both awesome and laughable. "Tell Me Now" opens with a piano sound through a keyboard that really sounds bad like some kind of cheap toy keyboard. Luckily they don't linger on that too long, as clean electric guitars enter, and the vocalist's clean vocal performance carry this ballad-like verse for a while until, from out of nowhere, heavy guitars burst in amongst a scream. The arrangement of clean verse / heavy chorus is done especially well, and the song is very enjoyable! "Relapse" opens with someone playing the bongos, an instrument that been severely overused recently, and continues into a heavy rhythm with a guitar lead in the center that then falters to an acoustic verse with clean vocals that sounds surprisingly similar to older Opeth stuff... you know, back when they used to do atmospheric acoustic passages. The following heavy sections are laced with melody and catchiness that continues to lay waste to the 'nu-metal' claims.
The Last Dance is a really sturdy album that is sure to continue providing the popularity that 40 Below Summer have already been receiving. Sure, it's nothing too unique or especially creative, but it is executed a lot better than so many records that came before it. It sounds like they took plenty of time putting this album together, from the perfect wah-wah guitar sounds they use occasionally, to the punchy and comprehensive production that has the perfect balance between kick and cruise, so to speak. The album sounds really smooth, yet the group is able to really thrash when they feel like it. Definitely check this one out if you're into short, catchy metal tunes!
There is a DVD included with The Last Dance, which is always a plus for that extra little bit of enjoyment out of the package. The DVD holds a live performance recorded in 2005 from the Starland Ballroom in 'motherf**king dirty New Jersey', as well as some behind the scenes stuff, interviews, and even music videos all squished together into one video. There's a little introduction from the singer explaining how the show was the farewell show, as some other members decided to go seperate ways. The video quality is really good and seems professional, though the dudes holding the cameras can't stay still for too long. They must have been hopped up on sugar or something. The mix is also well done, though the guitars lack the thickness they had on the album. Other than that, the sound is actually pretty similar. The vocalist throws out a bunch of 'motherf**kers!' when he speaks, but you should enjoy The Last Dance if you can handle that.
7.6/10
UM's Review Rating Scale
Official 40 Below Summer Website
Official Crash Music Website
Crash Music - CMU61186 - Oct. 31st, 2006
By Brandon Strader
Hailing from the steamy depths of New York, 40 Below Summer present their third album, The Last Dance, amongst cries that they're "not nu-metal!" Usually when popular bands make such a claim, it is almost always false. In this case, it is partially true, yet the brutal screaming of the vocalists and the chuggy guitar work overthrow the catchy clean vocals and short, radio-like song structures. If that wasn't enough, you'll also have the percussion to affirm the fact that the band aren't a nu-metal band, as the double-bass begins to roll like a bowling ball towards the big white pins, which I guess represents the bandmembers - especially that bald one.
Songs like "5 Of A Kind" display a more catchy type of rock you would expect to hear on the radio, but the band still incorporate the occasional scream and heavy riff into the song. The vocalist singing 'so f**k you' in such a pleasant clean vocal performance is both awesome and laughable. "Tell Me Now" opens with a piano sound through a keyboard that really sounds bad like some kind of cheap toy keyboard. Luckily they don't linger on that too long, as clean electric guitars enter, and the vocalist's clean vocal performance carry this ballad-like verse for a while until, from out of nowhere, heavy guitars burst in amongst a scream. The arrangement of clean verse / heavy chorus is done especially well, and the song is very enjoyable! "Relapse" opens with someone playing the bongos, an instrument that been severely overused recently, and continues into a heavy rhythm with a guitar lead in the center that then falters to an acoustic verse with clean vocals that sounds surprisingly similar to older Opeth stuff... you know, back when they used to do atmospheric acoustic passages. The following heavy sections are laced with melody and catchiness that continues to lay waste to the 'nu-metal' claims.
The Last Dance is a really sturdy album that is sure to continue providing the popularity that 40 Below Summer have already been receiving. Sure, it's nothing too unique or especially creative, but it is executed a lot better than so many records that came before it. It sounds like they took plenty of time putting this album together, from the perfect wah-wah guitar sounds they use occasionally, to the punchy and comprehensive production that has the perfect balance between kick and cruise, so to speak. The album sounds really smooth, yet the group is able to really thrash when they feel like it. Definitely check this one out if you're into short, catchy metal tunes!
There is a DVD included with The Last Dance, which is always a plus for that extra little bit of enjoyment out of the package. The DVD holds a live performance recorded in 2005 from the Starland Ballroom in 'motherf**king dirty New Jersey', as well as some behind the scenes stuff, interviews, and even music videos all squished together into one video. There's a little introduction from the singer explaining how the show was the farewell show, as some other members decided to go seperate ways. The video quality is really good and seems professional, though the dudes holding the cameras can't stay still for too long. They must have been hopped up on sugar or something. The mix is also well done, though the guitars lack the thickness they had on the album. Other than that, the sound is actually pretty similar. The vocalist throws out a bunch of 'motherf**kers!' when he speaks, but you should enjoy The Last Dance if you can handle that.
7.6/10
UM's Review Rating Scale
Official 40 Below Summer Website
Official Crash Music Website
