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Epitaph Records -- Millencolin

Poison The Well

The Opposite Of December
1999
Trustkill

Poison The Well - The Opposite Of December (Cover Artwork)


Review by: bemused
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Trustkill Records (Logo)

Published on July 23rd 2004

This is the quintessential metalcore album!

Well, maybe not, but its a pretty damn solid release.

What makes "The Opposite of December" such a great listen is the fact that when it came out several years ago, metalcore wasn't the disturbingly cliche'd beast that confronts us presently.

"The Opposite of December" showcases some very aggresive, emotional tunes, and you can't help but gain some insight into the jaded vocalists outlook on life.The guitar work is pretty specky (yes, specky), althouh probably not as diverse or even technical as their latter work (especialy on the widely maligned, but personally appreciated "You Come Before You").

If your a sucker for fast, double kicks-a-plenty, drumming, then you'll probably find something you like on this record. Take the "Nerdy" breakdown. If this doesn't get you dancing around the room I don't know what will? "Mid Air Love Message" is another good example of this.

The singing is relatively non existent, which is not a terrible thing in my books. Instead, vocalist Jeffrey Moreira, chooses to scream most of his heartfelt lyrics with such ferocity that a listener can do little but question the man's intensity (basically it doesn't seem fake or contrived, to me at least). Moreira also throws a considerable amount of spoken word verses into the mix, most notably on the classic "Artist's Rendering of Me".

Another thing that endears this release to me, is it brings the mosh bigtime. And No, not in the "Oh why don't we have a slow verse and then see how unpredictable we can be by throwing in a toughguy breakdown" way. Poison the Well, may do this on occassion (see "A Aish for Wings that Work"), but generally their breakdowns come out of nowhere, and the speed doesn't let up for the entire duration of this release.

I generally take hardcore with a grain of salt (schwing!) and this release is right up my alley. So if you like hardcore without the embarrassing 3rd grade lyricism and whiny vocals, and more importantly hardcore that makes you pump your fist and dance like the fanboy you are, then definitely check this out. A classic, what more can I say?



People who liked this also liked:
Refused - The Shape of Punk to ComeSunny Day Real Estate - DiaryFugazi - Red MedicineGet Up Kids - Something To Write Home AboutMinor Threat - Complete DiscographyNOFX - The DeclineBad Religion - No ControlFugazi - 13 SongsAs I Lay Dying - Shadows Are SecurityBad Religion - Suffer



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    Posted by kior on 2007-12-14 20:52:12
    My Score:

    I think that to anyone who liked it the first time around this album really is timeless in it's appeal. The scream Jeff has on the tracks is a very refreshing contrast between the generic growl and high pitched scream that are both equally present in the recent explosion of hardcore influenced music. Indeed Jeff's vocals are now a lot deeer and I find them a lot less satisfying for this reason. More than that though the whole of the thing feels utterly real, compelling and full of passion and hunger. There is a lot of very contrived music that wants desperately to sound like this nowadays but this is the real deal and I can't imagine a time in my life when listening to this album won't put chills down my spine.

    Posted by sirens on 2006-06-01 10:12:11

    this got me into indie music.

    Posted by Anonymous on Monday, October 31, 2005 at 10:57 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    ok people...lets get something god damn straight...EVERYONE...INCLUDING MYSELF IS A POSER...none of you lil shits were born into this music ok? none of you were born into this lifestyle mother fuckers so for those of you calling other people posers...go suck a god damn black cock cuz you're gay

    btw POISON THE WELL is the best band alive

    Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, October 14, 2004 at 12:59 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    For all you people who say you are hardcore are fucking idiots. Fucking this cd was awsome and you know it. Hatebreed is a good fucking band, just because they went mainstream does'nt mean you dont have to like them. It just shows millions of people know them from there music. If you say Hatebreed sucks or any hardcore band now your a fucking pouser and you know it. Your not even considered hardcore if you say some stupid shit like that. Hatebreed is what got hardcore out to the world. Im tired of people judging hardcore bands and saying the music sucks. But when you think about it only a fake ass wanna be hardcore kid would judge the music, because if you were a real hardcore kid you jam out to any hardcore band that gets your mind away from reality and never judge them for any reason. DAM, ya'll hardcore pousers are worse then the kids that call them selves punk. And punk is fucking dead!!! Open your fucking eyes and go back to mainstream pop-wannabe-punk music because you serously dont belong in the underground music. Dont ever judge when your already being judged, fucking pussies.

    Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, July 29, 2004 at 11:25 AM (EDT)
    My Score:

    I really liked 'You Come Before You'...thought it was a great record. I personally wouldn't have wanted PTW to keep on repeating 'Tear From The Red' every 3 - 4 years.

    Although I still don't understand why the hell they signed to Atlantic. It's obvious within a couple of years Atlantic will drop them 'cause they aren't selling in U2 figures.

    Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, July 28, 2004 at 11:59 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    Just think, that a year before this record was released, Refused put out their last album, "the shape of punk to come." God Damnit, that album is what punk and hardcore is all about. And it's sad to think that bands are still desperatly trying to create something close to this album, but just can't seem to do it. The Opposite of December is a decent record, but it just reminds me of how hardcore is digging itself a deeper hole.

    Posted by FortyMinutesWest on 2004-07-28 13:25:14
    My Score:

    Hahaha, I love when people get all worked up over shit like this.

    No one is saying anything about a scene, they're saying that when metalcore was fairly new to the masses, lots of different people listened to these bands. Because of this, the shows were more fun, and people weren't acting like assholes (most of the time).

    Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, July 28, 2004 at 10:40 AM (EDT)
    My Score:

    Everybody who commented on this page about the scene and how it is not the same anymore are posers. Fuck your scene and the gay ass pretentious bullshit that it involves. PUNK and HARDCORE have been around when the stooges and MC5 started. Turning into what would be bad brains and minor threat. This 1999 shit, is ridiculous! Why don't you have your mom drop you off at the show and then you guys and gals can stand in the back acting like you don't even like the band your listening to. Then when it is over you can go home to your parents living room and listen to the band you just saw and talk about how fucking awesome they were bra! FUCK SCENESTERS! The purest form of being a poser!

    Posted by FortyMinutesWest on 2004-07-27 18:33:56
    My Score:

    "this is the band for those who want to be hardcore but also want to seem semi-intelligent in punk circles by describing this crap as "classic" hardcore."

    No one said this was classic hardcore. It did set the standard for a lot of the metalcore stuff that would come later on, for better or for worse.

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, July 27, 2004 at 5:21 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    this is the band for those who want to be hardcore but also want to seem semi-intelligent in punk circles by describing this crap as "classic" hardcore.

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, July 27, 2004 at 2:44 AM (EDT)
    My Score:

    "you know what? when this first came out, everyone who heard it loved it. EVERYONE.

    then a million bands like them formed and they all pretty much suck.

    but when this came out, everyone loved it."

    You took the words right out of my mouth.

    Posted by FortyMinutesWest on 2004-07-26 23:29:54
    My Score:

    "people that don't know anything about hardcore talk shit about hatebreed and terror "

    That's a pretty ignorant statement.

    Terror isn't a horrible band by any means, but they're massively overrated.

    Hatebreed just isn't a good band.

    I guess you like Skarhead too?

    Posted by BSD on 2004-07-26 19:13:47
    My Score:

    I hate arty metalcore and macho Terror crap. Hatebreed too.

    Fuck those homophobes. Just change your music lable to InsecureXCore and call people faggots and try to hold a mic without a thumb.

    People who "talk shit" about Hatebreed and Terror just have a better taste in music than you, sorry.

    Posted by Anonymous on Monday, July 26, 2004 at 7:02 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    i honestly don't understand the popularity of this band. i saw them at the plea for peace tour a couple years back. i remember all these kids outside w/ these hand made posters and what not for the band. poison the well were what every one outside was talking about. i was a little intrigued. but then they took the stage. fuck me, they were awful. i seriously wanted to hurt the one guitar player and his ego jerk off metal guitar solo faces he kept making. i just couldn't get over all the kids going ape shit over this band. blew my mind. i have never witnessed a band i couldn't stand more before or since. i just wanted them to stop. i remember looking around at all the other "old folks" up in the balcony and everyone had the same look of confusion and disgust on their faces. i've since seen a video of theirs and i'm still confused. why must they suck so much?

    Posted by johnnydanger on 2004-07-26 18:26:20
    My Score:

    people that don't know anything about hardcore talk shit about hatebreed and terror

    people that don't like arty metalcore and that have been around the block know that terror is possibly the most true, real band in the last 10 years

    Posted by FortyMinutesWest on 2004-07-26 17:53:42
    My Score:

    "The shitty weakness of bands like Poison The Well combined with the overt machismo of bands like Terror killed hardcore.

    Believe it or not, Victory didn't invent the genre in 1998."

    Yeah, they actually invented it around 1995.

    Posted by Anonymous on Monday, July 26, 2004 at 12:28 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    Actually, didn't the fans kill hardcore? And punk? And emo? Yeah, I'm pretty sure it's your fault. Losers.

    Posted by BSD on 2004-07-26 00:46:42
    My Score:

    The shitty weakness of bands like Poison The Well combined with the overt machismo of bands like Terror killed hardcore.

    Believe it or not, Victory didn't invent the genre in 1998.

    Posted by thriceequalsgod on 2004-07-26 00:29:51
    My Score:

    I second that.

    Posted by bemused on 2004-07-25 21:31:52
    My Score:

    To the guy directly below, you are an idiot. Please don't comment ever again.

    Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, July 25, 2004 at 1:27 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    poison the well killed punk rock and hardcore, and made it cool to be "cute"

    thanks a lot, poison the well for shit bands such as atreyu, 18 visions, and any pussy on trustkill, besides W.O.J. and terror.

    Posted by mikeinflames on 2004-07-25 13:16:03
    My Score:

    great band
    i've loved everything they've put out
    but i can't say the same for them live
    they're a bit of a disappointment live

    Posted by some1 on 2004-07-25 04:09:00
    My Score:

    you know what? when this first came out, everyone who heard it loved it. EVERYONE.

    then a million bands like them formed and they all pretty much suck.

    but when this came out, everyone loved it.

    Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, July 25, 2004 at 1:13 AM (EDT)
    My Score:

    You mean in 1999?!?! I thought it was SCENE then.

    Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, July 24, 2004 at 10:23 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    "If this doesn't get you dancing around the room I don't know what will?"

    So you do know and you're not telling us or what?

    -BSD

    Posted by opivykid on 2004-07-24 22:18:22
    My Score:

    Best PTW cd ever. "Nerdy" is amazing.

    Posted by Anchors on 2004-07-24 20:07:06
    My Score:

    Score is for the moron who said 'emometalcore.'

    Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, July 24, 2004 at 6:48 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    Poison the Well are the worst band ever. Fuck their depressed asses, they should kill themselves to express their sadness, not make music. It'd be less torturous for people like me.

    Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, July 24, 2004 at 4:49 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    no matter how much they suck now, this album was great

    Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, July 24, 2004 at 3:35 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    this album is emometalcore, you jackass. what?

    Posted by FortyMinutesWest on 2004-07-24 13:51:14
    My Score:

    "its great to put this record on and think back to days when the term "metalcore" didnt exist, and the kids in the hardcore scene werent at shows exclusively for scene points.
    "

    Honestly, it was a lot of fun back then. Imagine that, people going to shows to have a good time, what a crazy concept.

    Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, July 24, 2004 at 1:48 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    poison the well = not hardcore.

    Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, July 24, 2004 at 1:20 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    its great to put this record on and think back to days when the term "metalcore" didnt exist, and the kids in the hardcore scene werent at shows exclusively for scene points.

    Posted by slippy on 2004-07-24 13:09:33
    My Score:

    One of my first hardcore cds, Forty is right it's the only Poison the Well cd you should bother owning.

    Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, July 24, 2004 at 3:05 AM (EDT)
    My Score:

    godammit who put a question mark on the teleprompter?

    Well, thats the news. i'm Ron Burgundy, go fuck yourselves San Diego.

    Posted by inagreendase on 2004-07-24 02:12:45
    My Score:

    If this doesn't get you dancing around the room I don't know what will?

    I'm Ron Burgundy?

    Posted by Jesse on 2004-07-24 01:35:11
    My Score:

    This band sucks.

    Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, July 24, 2004 at 1:06 AM (EDT)
    My Score:

    I used to love this CD, still good maybe i'd like it more if the production was a little better...you come before you is their best work yet.

    Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, July 24, 2004 at 1:06 AM (EDT)
    My Score:

    poison the well rules live, seriously.

    and "artist's rendering of me" has quite possibly one of the most entertaining lyrical hooks in metalcore, seriously.

    try not screaming " I COULD, NEVER, SWALLOW YOUR FALSE IDEALS, OF A, LIFELESS, HAPPY ENDING!", seriously.

    Posted by BSD on 2004-07-24 01:05:07
    My Score:

    That was my Saddle Creek phase, and I wish you didn't have to exploit it! I will be silent no longer!

    Posted by sloppyblake on 2004-07-24 00:35:28
    My Score:

    This is good. The EP was better.

    Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, July 24, 2004 at 12:24 AM (EDT)
    My Score:

    I saw BSD at Tower Records buying this, both Coheed and Cambria albums, and a Cursive t-shirt.

    Posted by FortyMinutesWest on 2004-07-24 00:11:38
    My Score:

    The only PTW album that anyone needs.

    Posted by BSD on 2004-07-23 23:52:50
    My Score:

    The Opposite of Decent Music