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Epitaph Records -- Millencolin

Appleseed Cast

The End of the Ring Wars
1998
Deep Elm

Appleseed Cast - The End of the Ring Wars (Cover Artwork)


Review by: bringbacktheboyiused
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Deep Elm Records (Logo)

Published on December 26th 2003

Music can change lives. Music can make a grown man cry, and music can make you feel right inside. Very few albums have changed my life in a drastic way. This is one of them...

The first time I listened to this CD, I was awe struck within the first minute of the opening track "Marigold and Patchwork". Not because of the lyrics (because the singer doesn't kick in until after about a minute and a half) but because of the pure emotions this music stirred. Intricate yet simple guitars open the first song, the drums kick in, and the pure energy of the song is unleashed. The singer screams "Fall Down Marigold" and you just know that what he has to say is important. You know that there is real meaning and purpose to the song. When a song portrays beauty and emotion so vividly through both the music and the vocals, a work of art has been created. 'The End of the Ring Wars' is a masterpiece.

Every single song on this album evokes emotion. The thick and loud guitars are complemented nicely by the drum and bass work that keeps the songs moving foward. The vocals may sound a little rough to some, but they are raw and true. Screams abound, although there is some singing thrown in when appropriate. The production is top notch, and the art work is a little disturbing but is great as well. What makes this album (and the band) stand out amongst its peers is the emotion. This is not your sterotypical emo record. No whining and no bullshit. This is real, heartfelt, inspirational, emotional music (what "real" (I hate saying that) emo is about).

The Appleseed Cast have been making music for years, and continue to today. They created the "Low Level Owl Vol. 1 & 2" series which garnered critical acclaim as they are masterpieces in their own right and showed a real growth and maturity in the band. As far as 'the End of the Ring Wars' goes, it is a true masterpiece that is beautiful and heartfelt, and is a testement to why music is important. This record may not change your life or affect you the way it has me, but it will rock you. Pick this up, it's a beautiful and rocking record.

Favorite Songs: Marigold & Patchwork - One of my favorite songs of all time, so amazing. Moment # 72 - rockin great song. Stars - has horns in intro, which is half the song, then vocals kick in, really beautiful, works very well. Dreamland - Rivals Marigold & Patchwork for my favorite song, amazing duel vocals in verse. Wow.



People who liked this also liked:
Thursday - Full CollapseGet Up Kids - Something To Write Home AboutRefused - The Shape of Punk to ComeAlkaline Trio - GoddamnitCursive - The Ugly OrganDave House - See That No One Else EscapesBrand New - The Devil and God Are Raging Inside MeMineral - EndSerenadingAppleseed Cast - PeregrineStrike Anywhere - Change Is A Sound



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    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, March 31, 2006 at 4:44 AM (EST)

    i think it maybe is supposed to be a hobbit..

    you know from lord of the rings...

    it might just be me, but the title of the album seems to be a reference to it (LOTR that is).

    Posted by benz on 2006-03-21 18:36:35

    Why did you sleep with her then?

    Great great album.

    Posted by PetroBPettson on 2004-01-07 04:24:20
    My Score:

    Looks like the girl I lost my virginity to....But probably less of a skank. Yeah, I got tested after that one.

    Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, January 3, 2004 at 2:55 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    I fuckin love that mongo on the front cover

    Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, December 31, 2003 at 4:58 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    Hey El Vaqueero you really fucking like to dig at people eh? I'd love to meet you and kick your ass, its easy to type about how I could stomp you, but believe me if we met I'd creem ya'

    Barkley

    P.S I need to go listen to some Osker "Idle Will Kill" to get some of this aggro out

    Posted by FortyMinutesWest on 2003-12-30 14:05:28
    My Score:

    "hahahahahahaha, wow, the id for the writer of the review appears on my computer as "bringbacktheboyiused." oh, my god, there's just too much joke material in that to even start... "

    Already made that joke Vaquero, booyah!

    Posted by Anonymous on Monday, December 29, 2003 at 11:34 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    This record is decent- a couple of really strong moments, but one or two spots are unlistenably bad. I think their creativity and maturity grew tenfold with Mare Vitalis and Low Level Owl (then hideously regressed with Two Conversations, but that's another story entirely).

    Posted by Anonymous on Monday, December 29, 2003 at 12:47 AM (EST)
    My Score:

    hahahahahahaha, wow, the id for the writer of the review appears on my computer as "bringbacktheboyiused." oh, my god, there's just too much joke material in that to even start...

    -el vaquero
    it's not too late to win asshole of 2003 award is it?

    Posted by Anonymous on Monday, December 29, 2003 at 12:45 AM (EST)
    My Score:

    man with the combined effort of the first paragraph and the cover of the album, i could not stop laughing. heavens to betsy, is this shit real? the only thing that makes me want to check out this band is because they did a split with planes mistaken for stars. all this review did was make me want to listen to some dir en grey. and not cry.

    -el vaquero

    Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, December 28, 2003 at 9:21 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    LOL

    Nice fuckin mongoloid on the front cover

    Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, December 28, 2003 at 1:14 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    I love the music but the vocals blow balls.

    Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, December 27, 2003 at 11:42 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    portrait is an amazing song
    and the untitled instrumental track with the sax is also great
    ..i guess they're all damn good songs
    def the best AC album

    Posted by bringbacktheboyiusedtobe on 2003-12-27 19:58:10
    My Score:

    thank you.

    Posted by maverick on 2003-12-27 12:19:50
    My Score:

    Fixed, no worries.

    -Scott

    Posted by bringbacktheboyiusedtobe on 2003-12-27 03:09:12
    My Score:

    Um...I wrote this review and the Elliott review, not the Against me and the other review...I gave the wrong screen name thingy, but the right e-mail addy. it was ask024@yahoo.com. Sorry, could this be fixed maybe? no big deal...

    Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, December 27, 2003 at 2:16 AM (EST)
    My Score:

    actually 3 perfect scores..

    Posted by CallingLondon on 2003-12-27 00:28:45
    My Score:

    wow, dude, 2 perfect score albums? i'm not so sure about that, tho you've made me want to check this band out.

    Posted by sk8punx4evr on 2003-12-26 17:01:45
    My Score:

    the score is for the FAS victim on the cover.

    Posted by maverick on 2003-12-26 16:35:22
    My Score:

    It's all been downhill from here for this band. They never should've given the boot to their sax-playing bassist.

    Their newer stuff is good, too, but I find myself pulling out this disc way more than their others when I want to hear some Appleseed Cast.

    -Scott

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, December 26, 2003 at 3:28 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    This album is incredible, but not as fresh as their 2nd.

    -Mr. Jiggyfly