- Apr 5, 2003
- 2,668
- 2
- 38
As We Fight - Midnight Tornado
Dockyard 1 - DY100220 - 2006
By Brandon Strader
As We Fight appeared in the hardcore scene in 2004 with their successful debut album, Black Nails And Bloody Wrists, and further paved their way into notoriety with a live show that won them the title "Best Live Band" at the Danish Metal Awards. Having a great live show is a definite plus, as is having a large fanbase, but these guys seem to have that fanbase for all the wrong reasons. First off, not only are they a hardcore band, but they are an extremely unoriginal hardcore band from top to bottom, literally. Their vocalist shouts out incoherent lines in your typical hardcore style, and the guitar riffs and leads sound like something you could hear on any thousands of hardcore records. Even their artwork suggests the fact that As We Fight are following the pedantic path of generic hardcore.
Something that has really been plaguing the hardcore scene lately is that the studio albums all sound way too clean and overproduced. You wouldn't know that these guys were a great live band because their album isn't anywhere near what you would actually hear in a live setting. The first time that the band really starts to tear things up is on the song "Standing At The Gates Of Failure" wherein they thrash hard on their guitars, playing fast tremolos, and the percussionist goes mad with the double bass. Despite their musical talents and the good performances, the music dies due to a lack of original songwriting, and the band seems like one of those less desirable bands you would experience at Ozzfest or something. For a second album, it really is not too bad, however the band would benefit greatly from seeking out their own sound and style. A great live performance is really only important if you're seeing them live where the flashiness of the show and the moshing is the main focus. The album really just doesn't stand up on its own.
6/10
UM's Review Rating Scale
Official As We Fight Website
Official Dockyard 1 Website
Dockyard 1 - DY100220 - 2006
By Brandon Strader
As We Fight appeared in the hardcore scene in 2004 with their successful debut album, Black Nails And Bloody Wrists, and further paved their way into notoriety with a live show that won them the title "Best Live Band" at the Danish Metal Awards. Having a great live show is a definite plus, as is having a large fanbase, but these guys seem to have that fanbase for all the wrong reasons. First off, not only are they a hardcore band, but they are an extremely unoriginal hardcore band from top to bottom, literally. Their vocalist shouts out incoherent lines in your typical hardcore style, and the guitar riffs and leads sound like something you could hear on any thousands of hardcore records. Even their artwork suggests the fact that As We Fight are following the pedantic path of generic hardcore.
Something that has really been plaguing the hardcore scene lately is that the studio albums all sound way too clean and overproduced. You wouldn't know that these guys were a great live band because their album isn't anywhere near what you would actually hear in a live setting. The first time that the band really starts to tear things up is on the song "Standing At The Gates Of Failure" wherein they thrash hard on their guitars, playing fast tremolos, and the percussionist goes mad with the double bass. Despite their musical talents and the good performances, the music dies due to a lack of original songwriting, and the band seems like one of those less desirable bands you would experience at Ozzfest or something. For a second album, it really is not too bad, however the band would benefit greatly from seeking out their own sound and style. A great live performance is really only important if you're seeing them live where the flashiness of the show and the moshing is the main focus. The album really just doesn't stand up on its own.
6/10
UM's Review Rating Scale
Official As We Fight Website
Official Dockyard 1 Website
