STAMPIN GROUND A NEW DARKNESS UPON US
Century Media - 2004
By Rodrigo Escandon
Stampin Ground hails from England and A New Darkness Upon Us marks their fourth full-length album and my first experience to their sound. Upon my first listen I was ready to hate this album. I just did not like it one bit but with some subsequent listens I begin to enjoy it a little bit more. It has a lot of energy and a very powerful production thanks to Andy Sneap.
The simplest way to describe Stampin Ground would be as having influences from the east coast hardcore sound as well as featuring some hints of thrash. There are some enjoyable musical moments such as with Dead From the Neck Up and Bear the Scars which are two of the faster and thrashier songs on A New Darkness Upon Us. But a very weak and annoying vocalist in Adam Frakes-Sime ruins both of these songs and in essence the entire album. Vocals in hardcore bands are extremely hit and miss with me and if I cant get past the singing there is no wonderful and great music in the world that will make me enjoy the album. That is the main problem I have with A New Darkness Upon Us. A totally torturous moment was hearing Killer of Society with those awful rap-like vocals in the verses, sorry but that is just not my cup of tea.
But it is not only the vocals that are a weak point, at times the music is just not very enjoyable. I mentioned two of the better songs because they are faster but most of the album is stuck in this mid-tempo hell that would not speed up. These are the times when I wish CD players had a button like record players where you can switch the RPM. If this were a vinyl I would hit that button to the 45-RPM and hope for the best. Unfortunately, we dont have that luxury and we are stuck with this plodding pace.
Overall, A New Darkness Upon Us is not an album that I can totally hate but it is also an album that I dont really care for. I can hear why it could be enjoyed but the bottom line is that Stampin Ground are just not for me.
Century Media Website
Stampin Ground Official Website
Century Media - 2004
By Rodrigo Escandon
Stampin Ground hails from England and A New Darkness Upon Us marks their fourth full-length album and my first experience to their sound. Upon my first listen I was ready to hate this album. I just did not like it one bit but with some subsequent listens I begin to enjoy it a little bit more. It has a lot of energy and a very powerful production thanks to Andy Sneap.
The simplest way to describe Stampin Ground would be as having influences from the east coast hardcore sound as well as featuring some hints of thrash. There are some enjoyable musical moments such as with Dead From the Neck Up and Bear the Scars which are two of the faster and thrashier songs on A New Darkness Upon Us. But a very weak and annoying vocalist in Adam Frakes-Sime ruins both of these songs and in essence the entire album. Vocals in hardcore bands are extremely hit and miss with me and if I cant get past the singing there is no wonderful and great music in the world that will make me enjoy the album. That is the main problem I have with A New Darkness Upon Us. A totally torturous moment was hearing Killer of Society with those awful rap-like vocals in the verses, sorry but that is just not my cup of tea.
But it is not only the vocals that are a weak point, at times the music is just not very enjoyable. I mentioned two of the better songs because they are faster but most of the album is stuck in this mid-tempo hell that would not speed up. These are the times when I wish CD players had a button like record players where you can switch the RPM. If this were a vinyl I would hit that button to the 45-RPM and hope for the best. Unfortunately, we dont have that luxury and we are stuck with this plodding pace.
Overall, A New Darkness Upon Us is not an album that I can totally hate but it is also an album that I dont really care for. I can hear why it could be enjoyed but the bottom line is that Stampin Ground are just not for me.
Century Media Website
Stampin Ground Official Website
