Beloved (US) - Failure On

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Forest: Sold Out
Jul 5, 2003
5,154
13
38
41
Indiana
Beloved (US) – Failure On
Solid State Records – 2003
By Jason Jordan

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Beloved (US) is a rather jovial band that has a penchant for crafting catchy, metalcore-tinged songs. Most of the time, the band’s material is enchanting and is primarily angst-ridden. However, the group do successfully dabble into the heavier side of things on Failure On.

“Failure on My Lips” is the opening track, and is presumably where the album title is taken from. Screams and clean vocals – provided by Moore and Musten – interchange regularly, while the instrumentation follows a similar pattern; both aforementioned traits are adequate. “Only Our Faces Hide” has a notable melody hidden underneath the noticeable, multi-faceted layers of Beloved (US)’s sound. At times, the boys sound a bit dejected and frantic: the polished production has a tendency to downplay the outpouring of emotion, though. “Rise & Fall” begins anticlimactically, and is seemingly content to stay there…until the 2:00 minute mark when the main riff elevates the song from drabness. “Death to Traitors,” ironically, commences on an optimistic note, but traverses hardness after a minute and a half. “Defect from Decay” is unsettling at first – ease sets in as soon as the vocalizations appear. “Watching the Lines Blur” and “Inner Pattern” are not devoid of the formulas utilized within Failure On. “Aimless Endeavor,” nevertheless, with its delicacy transcends most other compositions penned by Beloved (US). The former is not entirely devoid of harshness, as the previous statement admittedly has the propensity to mislead. “Allure” is a tranquil number, and “Insult to Injury” finishes Failure On.

Lamentably, the five-piece aren’t as gripping as I’d wished them to be. Thankfully, though, Beloved (US) is a relatively young band who should have a bright future ahead of them. The aforesaid album probably won’t be your best bet once they release another record.

7.5/10

Official Beloved website
Official Solid State Records website