Codeseven

Codeseven: Dancing Echoes/Dead SoundsDancing Echoes/Dead Sounds (2004)
Equal Vision Records

Reviewer Rating: 3

Contributed by: soulbleedsoulbleed
(others by this writer | submit your own)
Published on November 2nd 2004Codeseven started off as innovators. They preceded Cave In as one of emotional hardcore's true visionaries, leaders, and idealists. Their debut album A Sense of Coalition was widely hailed by critics and fans alike as one of the best modifications to the hardcore sound, and is even held in a higher .

Codeseven started off as innovators. They preceded Cave In as one of emotional hardcore's true visionaries, leaders, and idealists. Their debut album A Sense of Coalition was widely hailed by critics and fans alike as one of the best modifications to the hardcore sound, and is even held in a higher regard than Cave In's superb debut, Beyond Hypothermia. After that, they released Division of Labor, an EP that added some more elements of experimental rock, but was still along the same road as Coalition, and it gave them even more respect.

But after that, things started to go downhill. Cave In etched away from hardcore with Jupiter in 2000 and started focusing more on progressive/space rock, and it almost seemed like Codeseven scrambled to do the same. Once innovative, Codeseven had resorted to apeing bands that were outdoing them -- the result was the space-rock experimental (not hardcore at all) album, The Rescue, which dropped in 2002 -- two whole years after Cave In officially took over Codeseven's original spot atop the critic's favorite list.

The album was good at what it was -- a non-hardcore album -- but it was neither as good as Cave In's last effort nor Division of Labor. The band then began touring with prog-rock favorites Dredg, and fed even more off of their energy, and over the next year or so, abandoned hardcore altogether. During their shows, all they would play would be material from The Rescue or newer -- just like Cave In did, mind you -- and slowly their older fans started to leave.

But Codeseven didn't care. They were going to up Cave In if it killed them in the process. They were going strong -- hard on their way to upping Jupiter. But then the bombshell dropped -- Cave In came out with Antenna (on a major label, mind you, while Codeseven was still stuck on nobody-label Music Cartel). Antenna secured Cave In a lot of publicity, and it killed Codeseven. However, all the attention they got brought label execs to Codeseven's door, and they eventually signed with Equal Vision in 2003. They labored hard, studying the works of others, still abandoning hardcore, and somewhere they learned to sing (just like Cave In).

The result came toward the end of 2004 with their EV debut, Dancing Echoes / Dead Sounds. The grand title says it all -- this album is pretentious space rock, for sure. Did they outdo Cave In with all their effort, though? The answer: Hell no. While this album is definitely good within the whole space/prog/pretention genre, it focuses more on weak sounds and lengthy interludes and instrumentals to really latch on to anything. It's obvious the band has been so influenced by Dredg that they've practically resorted to mimicing them -- "Quails Dream" sounds like every interlude on Dredg's masterpiece El Cielo.

The only time Dancing Echoes succeeds is when they're playing actual music. "All the Best Dreams" is pretty good, and "Roped and Tied" is a good use of synthesizers. Surely, fans of new Cave In and Dredg and the like will eat this up, but anyone who has any knowledge of the band's history will be utterly disgusted. The band seems so pathetic and attention-hungry now to really be taken seriously. Of course, this can be taken a different way also -- maybe they got sick of hardcore and grew up, maybe they didn't like hardcore in the first place, or maybe they were sick of people apeing them? But, all that is really doubtful. Watching them 'grow' and 'mature' month by month just shows how observant they are of ongoing musical trends and how they really just want to capitalize on them.

Dancing Echoes/Dead Sounds will most likely not succeed in bringing Codeseven the attention they crave, so it's quite interesting to see where the band will go from here. Maybe once Cave In starts doing heavier stuff again, Codeseven will magically record a hardcore album. Hell, you never know. I am right sometimes.

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Fine Print: The following comments are owned by whoever posted them. We are not respon sible for them in any way. Seriously.

Anonymous (October 6, 2005)

that scenepointblank review sucks. learn how to write.

Anonymous (October 6, 2005)

"secondly, Cave In ISNT going back to metal."

haha. that's funny, now.

Anonymous (July 21, 2005)

ok well i really liked that review. if you had never heard of the band before that review would definatley make you want to check out their stuff for one reason or another and let you decide for yourself. good review. havent heard the album but ill check out some songs.

Anonymous (March 23, 2005)

Read the SCENE POINT BLANK review here

porkpie (December 9, 2004)

"This record was so lame. Equal Vision is the new Victory.

-Scott"

so is the faggot magazine you hardly work for, fatty.

-brent

Anonymous (November 19, 2004)

I have always liked Codeseven ever since A sense of coalition. I know these guys personally and i know for a fact that they ARE NOT mimicking Cave In. For a while dancing echoes /dead sounds was going to be entirely instrumental. I think they are going in a great direction and all the haters need to shut up and listen to New Found Glory or some other garbage like lost prophets.

Anonymous (November 18, 2004)

That was one painful review. Who gives a shit on your theory that codeseven supposedly replicates all the musical changes to cave in.
It's still great music, i'd rather listen to their last two albums compared to their early material.
It's like you reviewed the album against cave in, instead of the music itself.
In conclusion: Shit review.

hstisgod (November 12, 2004)

Immediately running up inside my head is the automatic comparisons with 80’s Synth acts such as The Cure, “Dancing Echoes/Dead Sounds” accelerates at times just as its self-explanatory album title would suggest. Upbeat, somber waves of pop alternative energy and song writing skill become the core aspect, changing the mental gears on your initial assumptions.

This story could start back almost ten years ago when this North Carolina based act started its recording journey. Originally labeled “The Next Deftones", Codeseven has changed genre and sounds more often than Vanilla Ice would without his daily dose of Ritalin. But after nearly a decade of building what seemed to be a Hard Rock fan base, it seems they’re trading in the screeching sounds of metal for the soothing sounds of Synth. All in all, its not such a bad change as it seems to suit them just fine.

Although “All The Best Dreams” is slated to be the first video off their Equal Vision Records debut, arguably the real heart of this L.P. beats on track five “Roped and Tide.” Constantly beating with a dream sequence feel, the vocal effort and lyrics take the spotlight as the case should have been already, but just didn’t on the previous four tracks. “O, and I think its gonna give me a heart attack, You’re acting like a broken record skipping every track.” Like the album just woke up, we will continue to ignore the slow beginning. Almost as if someone just walked into the studio and turned up the volume at the chagrin of the once napping mop boy. Perhaps its just me, but this recording seems livelier all of a sudden. Though the guitar chords bleeding through the speakers seem a bit used and bland, the belief that something refreshing is on the way continues to gel inside your head.

I suppose its time to get into the comparison runoffs for those who need such a thing. Introducing track nine the appropriately named “Alt Wav”. While this song wont wow anyone with its unprecedented amazing sound or beats, it does blend a plethora of new and old mixtures of past hits such as Radiohead’s ‘Creep”. Occasionally sneaking in the angry stutter stop guitar chord effect in the background. “I don’t know …what you put into my glass, but it sure makes me feel, it sure makes me feel.” Joined at the hip with the already predictable Tears for Fears like vocals, and the backbeat drums of the Yeah Yeah Yeah’s 2004 hit ‘Maps’, this song and album will certainly grab the attention of its influences.

While to this point many comparisons have been made, none seem more fitting for the new Codeseven than the original 80’s Synth/Pop Rock kings themselves Depeche Mode. Showing a natural admiration for mixing all genre of Rock/Alternative, Codeseven doesn’t seem to follow one particular guideline or another. Bellowing throughout the disc, “Dancing Echoes and Dead Sounds”, Track 12 “Sunflower” for instance, shows evidence of the once edgy Codeseven . Perhaps a play on words making reference to their own blooming, ending this CD with a blank stare. “My god what have they done.”

Anonymous (November 9, 2004)

who cares? this album is great. Cave In is great. if you dont like it, then dont listen. the end.

InnuendoAndOutTheOther (November 8, 2004)

like them or not...the new album would appeal to fans of Deftones

personally I like them...one of the few bands I listened to 5 years ago and still do today...in my opinion they are a very good band...their latest release lacked in some areas though...looking forward to their 5th album whenever it comes out

Cave In are truely one of the best bands around today and if making that jump from being a metal/hardcore band to what it was they did with Jupiter was what they had to do then so be it...but they reaped no benefits from that change (not immedeatly anyway) and have since honed their skills to what they are now which is an amazing band blending both elements of new and old Cave In

Anonymous (November 8, 2004)

I was ready to buy this cd of the praise the guy gave it... then i read

".if you are at all a fan of Deftones"

GET THE FUCK OUT! DEFTONES IS THE WORST FUCKING BAND EVER. SERIOUSLY. HOW CAN ANYONE LISTEN TO THAT MUSIC FOR OTHER REASONS THAN CURING INSOMNIA?

Anonymous (November 7, 2004)

If there is one band out there right now who does not give two shits about trend...it would be codeseven. they ARE what is the only breathe of originality in this sorry excuse for a scene right now. and yes...it brings tears to say that...but it's true. they are atmospheric rock comparable to no one. they are who they are. even if they sound different from what they have done in the past...guess what?...band's are made up of people, and those people grow and mature as well. so wouldn't it be logical for the music created by those people to do the same? if you are a lover of music...then buy this cd, b/c codeseven needs fans like you. if you are a lover of trends, t-shirts and jeans look no further into them b/c you really are just not mentally ready.

Anonymous (November 7, 2004)

the new cave in songs are so fucking rock! buckle your seatbelts, whenever they release their new one, i can pretty much promise all the shit talkers will be biting their fucking tongues.
THE MOTHERFUCKING BEEF

Anonymous (November 7, 2004)

i'm happy to see so many people ripping on cave in. good to see all the people who voted for the DUBBYA representing.

as for codeseven, if you havent heard their album that came out before this, do yourself a favor and check it out. if you like it, then and probably only then, give this one a shot.
-j money
ps- listen to cave in, dont judge them by their life choices

Anonymous (November 7, 2004)

there's a difference between 'maturing' and 'growing' and 'selling out'. sorry, but you don't start a hardcore band and end up progressive rock unless you get sick of no one listening to your music.

Anonymous (November 7, 2004)

reviewer never said the record was bad.

InnuendoAndOutTheOther (November 7, 2004)

score is for you being a total retard and not recognizing great music...I would love to browse at your collection if you think the new songs sound like crap

Anonymous (November 7, 2004)

yes, i am obviously an idiot because cave in's desperate attempt to rope their old fans back in sounds like crap. thats all my fault.

InnuendoAndOutTheOther (November 5, 2004)

to the reviewer...this review is not as bad as it people made it out to be...but it was more of a history lesson on Codeseven and Cave In (who doesn't need more than 1 or 2 references in a review not their own)...but they kinda have some Cave In like patterns goin on...but they don't sound alike...I forget if you said they did or not...but whatever

to the person who said Cave In sold out...you're an idiot

to the person who said Cave In incorporating metal parts in their songs again was embarrassing...you sir are also an idiot

to those reading this that like all Codeseven and all Cave In...you are smart

enough replies...this record is amazing...it is leaps and bounds better than anything this band has ever done...and is already one of my favorite records of the year...if it wasn't for this band's past...it would have no buisiness being reviewed here, so I can see how some kids are being kinda harsh...best EVR release in a long time...and will stand up there until The Circa Survive record comes out in spring 2005

this record is fantastic...if you are at all a fan of Deftones, Dredg, Cave In, Tinfed or The Rescue...check it out

btw...EVR bands are nothing like Victory or DTR...that is just plain moronic to think so

Anonymous (November 5, 2004)

I agree with this guy below. Well Said.

Anonymous (November 5, 2004)

this is the dumbest review i've ever read on this site, and thats saying a lot. when codeseven played heavy music, they were generic and boring and OK at best. while "the rescue" wasnt as good as "jupiter", it also wasnt going the same route that cave in was. if you knew anything about music that wasnt hardcore, you might have realized that. also, cave in HAS tried to get heavy again and its just become embarassing to even listen to. Codeseven, on the other hand, has matured even more and made this excellent record. it's a shame it's not getting appreciated by kids who'd rather hear mediocre metalcore

Anonymous (November 4, 2004)

Who cares?? Your review still sucked.

soulbleed (November 4, 2004)

what the fuck?
this score is for the review itself. completely retarded.
first of all, Cave In and Codeseven sound nothing alike. especially when talking about "Jupiter".
secondly, Cave In ISNT going back to metal. fucking let it go. nostalgia is fun and all, but if you'd step outside of your monotony for more than 4 seconds, you'd realize that what they are doing now surpasses anything off of "beyond hypothermia" or "until your heart stops".
and lastly, somebody else review this CD. someone who might know what the fuck they are talking about.

let's take this step by step.

1. never said this band SOUNDED like cave in. i said pretty much all evidence points, if you've followed their progression as much as i have, to the band following the same scheme of progression.

2. i never said cave in was going back to metal, nor did i say i wanted them to. i said that it'd be funny if they did and then codeseven did the same thing. learn how to read.

3. the monotony that you speak of is necessary to prove my point, which you must have missed somewhere along the way. i also never said their music wasn't good or better than their old stuff. mmk.

4. aside from the band members themselves and their groupies, i doubt you'd find someone who actually is more knowledgeable about this band than myself. i've been following them for almost seven years and have seen them live numerous times. just because you don't agree with me because you're too busy misunderstanding what i'm saying doesn't mean 'i don't know what i'm talking about'. i bet if i wrote a review saying OMFG THIS ALBUM IS SOOOO GREAT BEST ALBUM EVAR! you'd be on my nuts pretty quickly.

Anonymous (November 4, 2004)

To scott and the reviewer: you fucking lose.

awesome record. you guys dont know shit.

Anonymous (November 4, 2004)

um the reviewer never said the band sounded like cave in, he said they were mimicking them. there's a difference

jacobe (November 4, 2004)

This record was so lame. Equal Vision is the new Victory.
-Scott

stupidest comment ever. this album is beautiful. You obviously have no idea what youre talking about, get out of your punk bubble you stupid fuck.
---------------------------------------------------------- ----------------

naw, Scott was right. This album and label are lame. They are the new Victory and working on being the next DTR.