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Forever I Burn

The Tragedy Dialogs (2003)
Purity

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Contributed by: Jesse
(others by this writer | submit your own)

Published on June 15th 2004

Cliché hardcore/metal band name? Check. CD title meant to spark interest and yet remain philosophically aloof? Check. Weird guy with long hair and grossly separated mustache and goatee? Check. Absolutely shit-kicking balls to the wall metal and hardcore riffs that don't suck? Check. Wait a minute. Lack of stupid whiny emo-shit choruses that make the rest of the song suck? Check. Wait, wait, wait. Forever I Burn is ruining my theory of being able to write off a band based on their cliché hardcore name. And damn them for it.

This music seriously just kicks ass. It has everything about metal/metalcore/hardcore that's good, and none of the baggage. And they even sent a Mad-Lib on the same sheet as their press release!

People have always been telling me how much they love double-bass-pedal-predictable-heavy-breakdown-hardcore bands. I always said that they all sound the same. Forever I Burn does sound the same. The formula is applied generously. To every song. And it still works. I'm serious. No kidding.

I think I've discovered the key pieces which make this album work for me. First of all, the vocals aren't the typical throat cancer vocals that I abhor. Instead, they are of the higher pitched scream/shot variety more akin to Refused than Zao. I'm serious. I hate those throat cancer vocals. Next, the high guitar riffs (and the low ones too) are absolutely insane. Not only do they manage to be badass, but they present a technicality that is almost jaw-dropping. Honestly. We're almost talking Van Halen or Dokken worthy. Also, the song writing catches you off guard by sailing into breakneck speed verses from ultra slow and heavy breakdowns. Finally, the drums are near flawless. They encompass the entire sound of the band and tie everything together smoothly and create a complete metal/metalcore/hardcore package that'll knock your socks off. All the fills are amazing. The technicality of this band (minus the bass) is beyond words.

For some reason, after the five listed tracks stopped, two more tracks were left simply titled "1" and "2." No mention of them in the liner notes or press release. Or on the album anywhere. They're industrial/electronic beats with the guitar riffs and vocals and stuff. Sort of have a The Faint-y vibe to them. Extremely awesome. Metal dance beats. Who knew?

In summary, Scott must have accidently sent me a good record assuming that by the band name, the band was terrible. He was wrong. I was wrong at first too. Stupid band breaking down my stereotypes. Now I have to actually LISTEN to every band instead of just pretending to and writing off acts for having dumb names.

Disclaimer: Whatever Jesse says should always be taken with a grain of salt. As the token Punknews pretentious hipster/scenester, it's his job to like music that you hate in order for you to feel better about the music you listen to. Because of this, Jesse likes to include humor in his reviews that is borderline "sarcastic." This is a dangerous technique seeing as how half of the Punknews readers are either A) illiterate or B) just plain ignorant. He assures you that he doesn't actually write bands off just because of their name, and almost ALWAYS listens to a band before judging them.

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Jesse (June 20, 2004)

Well, actually, I'm just curious. I don't hold grudges and if I review it, it would be without bias.

My e-mail is: jcraub@csbsju.edu

Anonymous (June 20, 2004)

Sure. You can even review it for this message board and grade it low! What's your eMail?

-BSD

Jesse (June 18, 2004)

I'd like to listen to your music BSD.

Anonymous (June 17, 2004)

Since I'm active in making music, I think I'm more of a player-hater.

-BSD

Jesse (June 17, 2004)

I've figured it out. BSD is the punk equivalent of a "hater." So, the real question is, BSD, will you be attending the Annual Playa Hata's Ball?

Quit sippin' on that Hater-ade.

Anonymous (June 16, 2004)

Has anyone else noticed a great deal of elitism in some of the comments accusing others of being elitist? It's almost like the anti-elitists have become the elitists... whoa, dudes.

Anonymous (June 16, 2004)

MP3's please

pwfanatic (June 16, 2004)

i personally thought that the disclaimer was funny...cause well, it is so true.

Anonymous (June 16, 2004)

Who cares if no one in "scene" listens to Liars. Jesse's in the scene and he does. Kinda proves you wrong.
Why do you devote so much time to attacking Jesse?

-benz

Anonymous (June 16, 2004)

BSD, you are now officially the gayest thing since two guys having sex.

Anonymous (June 16, 2004)

I wasn't saying it like a bad thing. Just no one that's really deep underground and "elitist" even buys Liars, or CD's at all for that matter.

-BSD

Jesse (June 16, 2004)

*GASP* Liars are too mainstream! Elitist hipsters don't listen to Liars! Wait...Jesse listens to Liars...could this mean? NO! He can't not be an elitist hipster!

Anonymous (June 15, 2004)

I'm sorry but no elitist hipsters like the Liars. That stuff's way too mainstream. Go get some Boredoms albums and come back with something to SAY.

-BSD

Anonymous (June 15, 2004)

I'm sorry but no elitist hipsters like the Liars. That stuff's way too mainstream. Go get some Boredoms albums and come back with something to SAY.

-BSD

Anonymous (June 15, 2004)

I always though Jesse was a girl haha...

Anonymous (June 15, 2004)

Thats great that your trying to usetyour reputation as a big joke so you can laugh along with us. Too bad, it didnt work. Shut up.

-Greenvandal!

Anonymous (June 15, 2004)

"half of the Punknews readers are either A) illiterate or B) just plain ignorant"

I'm wondering where option "C) just as pretentious and elitist as reviewers" is.

boldredletters (June 15, 2004)

how many times are we going to see the "judging a band by its name" intro to a review? SERIOUSLY!

Anonymous (June 15, 2004)

Maybe they should change their name to "Forever I Suck." Seriously they are good musicians but the muppet-being-impaled shrieking is enough to make me want to claw my eyes out. I realize that I will probably get blasted for saying this but it seems to me that part of the redeeming value of punk is the social commentary (whether it be political, social values etc.). Bands like refused, rise against, strike anywhere, suicide machines will always stand out (as did social d, seven seconds, minor threat etc) because they have something to say and for the most part you can understand what is being said. I would much rather listen to Bob Dylan or Billy Bragg, who may not have the best voices but clearly have something worth listening to than what sounds like someone stepping on a cat overtop music, no matter how much it "shreds."

Jesse (June 15, 2004)

Well, it comes down to either I say something about it, or there tend to be at least 10-15 comments bitching about how I'm such a pretentious hipster/scenester. When I add something like that to my review, I'm not playing my ego, I'm really just trying to add humor by stating what a lot of people think of me. It's me saying, "Hey, I know you think I'm pretentious. I don't care, so shut up about it."

Anonymous (June 15, 2004)

It was undoubtedly Jesse who put it up, every one of his reviews seems to be a grab for attention, this epitomised it. Plus it called him the "token Punknews pretentious hipster/scenester" or something, what a fucking ego trip. The main editors have too much journalistic integrity (I believe) to add such masturbation to an otherwise strong review. You could be crowned 'king of the scene' Jesse and I wouldn't care. I come to this website for quality, bullshit-free reviews, and usually get them. I realise this is just playing to your ego and internet persona, but I'm simply suggesting you'd be a far better reviewer if you kept the 'coolness' out of your writing.

Having said that, I'll give this record a try.

- Anthony

Jesse (June 15, 2004)

I put it on there. Tee hee. Joan of Arc reviews are coming for The Gap, So Much Staying Alive and Lovelessness, and How Memory Works. The problem is, I always review stuff that's sent to me first before I review CDs that I choose to.

Anonymous (June 15, 2004)

One man's pretentious scenester is another man's person who actually knows what the hell they're talking about.

Anonymous (June 15, 2004)

Fuck you Jesse, where's that goddamn Joan of Arc reviews?

This band is too mainstream.

colin (June 15, 2004)

well, as a total music elitist, maybe i'll dig this. i, too, get turned off by shitty band names like that but hey, what the hell, comparing them to refused, i'll check it out.

jesse; did you put that disclaimer or did scott/aubin/etc?