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Fordirelifesake

Breathing In Is Only Half The Function
2001
Cloud Over Head

Fordirelifesake - Breathing In Is Only Half The Function (Cover Artwork)


Review by: moneenerd
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Published on February 11th 2005

Okay, let me get one thing straight: this is favorite album of all time. While the new material coming from these five Michigan guys is definately lacking, Fordirelifesake's melodic tech-screamo masterpiece remains (and always will remain) a classic in my ever-changing CD collection.

Every song from start to finish is a metal guitar solo-driven assault of speedy technical metal backed by gorgeous harmonic backing singing vocals by not one, not two, but FIVE backing vocalists, with Matt Wedge at the frontlines, screaming his heart out. Each track intertwines with the next leaving no room for calm, making it seem less like an album and more like an epic (which, of course, it is). The lyrics of break-up and self-hatred are poetic, without sounding too sappy, much like emo for metalheads. There's also some intense moments of "crowd-chanting" for the mic-loving hardcore kids.

Breathing In Is Only Half The Function is nine tracks of high-speed rock, only slowing down briefly for track 4 in "Cross My Heart, Hope To Die," an acoustic track featuring guest vocals by a Kara Dupuy, but the song changes pace halfway through as Matt screams in harmony(?) along with Miss Dupuy, and the guitars are plugged back in to continue the brutality, making it a, if not "the," highlight of the album.

I can't stress enough how incredible this album is to me. Weither you like FDLS's latest release or not, no one who is into screamo, hardcore, or even tech-metal should avoid finding this and playing the shit out of it.



People who liked this also liked:
Keep It Up - Keep It UpCount the Hours - We Don't CareChuck Ragan - Los FelizSeasick - Awakenings [10 inch]Gallows - Orchestra of WolvesCarol Bui - Everyone Wore WhiteCancer Bats - Hail Destroyer



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    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, June 13, 2006 at 8:59 AM (EDT)

    i STILL WANT THIS ALBULM TOO BAD I CANT FIND IT. i ONLY GOT LUCKY FINDing Dance Pretend protect defend. This is ony of my fav Bands though. = ]

    Posted by Anonymous on Monday, February 14, 2005 at 7:05 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    Actually, you have no idea what you're talking about. The "shredder" guitar player Eric is still in the band. The other guitar player Brian is the one that joined boysnightout. Get with it brah!

    Posted by Anonymous on Monday, February 14, 2005 at 7:25 AM (EST)
    My Score:

    awesome record..

    Posted by Anonymous on Monday, February 14, 2005 at 6:38 AM (EST)
    My Score:

    The guitarist who did the shredding quit fordirelifesake to join boys night out as a drummer. Yeah, that's what i said.

    Posted by Icapped2pac on 2005-02-13 21:06:04
    My Score:

    You lost me at "metal guitar solo".

    Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, February 12, 2005 at 10:46 AM (EST)
    My Score:

    This record was re-released on Forge Again Records. A good portion of the instruments were re-recorded a lot tighter and the whole thing was remastered with MUCH better artwork. It's still available from them as well, on vinyl at that.

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, February 11, 2005 at 6:44 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    Erik Kempa is sweet and does shred. Too bad I don't know if their still together. They havent played a show since halloween and they put out their new full length two months before.

    Posted by slippy on 2005-02-11 17:01:21
    My Score:

    Not a great review...I dont know what to say about this band. I've seen their live show a bunch of times and they are really entertaining, but their recordings are only decent.

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, February 11, 2005 at 3:06 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    fordyeyourhairblackandweartruckerhats

    score is for eric kempa....because he is metal as fuck and plays insane guitar riffs.

    im not into this band, but i respect them.

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, February 11, 2005 at 1:58 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    Not really a 10 for me - its good as far as this genre goes though.

    Joe

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, February 11, 2005 at 1:00 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    FDLS is hardcore's best-kept secret. Yes, this album is classic but their newer stuff is also pretty damn good.

    And man, they fucking shred.

    Posted by theundergroundscene on 2005-02-11 12:26:05
    My Score:

    oh but this review sucks

    Posted by theundergroundscene on 2005-02-11 12:25:46
    My Score:

    this band and album rules

    but shit it's not fucking screamo

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, February 11, 2005 at 11:42 AM (EST)
    My Score:

    yea that guitarist shreds the whole time. good stuff, it actually sounds good too, not like hes trying to play something technical just for the sake of playing something technical.

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, February 11, 2005 at 10:22 AM (EST)
    My Score:

    too bad hte guitar player randomly quit to join boynightout. sad but true. its great to see a detroit review on here though, how bout the bang bang!! record or heads will roll? both of those blow away fordirelifesake

    Posted by killyouridols on 2005-02-11 03:42:03
    My Score:

    this records is one of the best things i have ever heard. you can not NOT be impressed by the sick non stop guitar work.amazing

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, February 11, 2005 at 2:52 AM (EST)
    My Score:

    i liked Small Brown Bike. I wish they were still around.

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, February 11, 2005 at 2:01 AM (EST)
    My Score:

    the second a reviewer refers to a record as "screamo" makes me immediately not want to hear it.

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, February 11, 2005 at 1:34 AM (EST)
    My Score:

    im so sick of michigan hardcore/metalcore

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, February 11, 2005 at 12:43 AM (EST)
    My Score:

    Score is for Michigan punk/Hardcore...and yes, even Michigan Emo.

    -Ken

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, February 11, 2005 at 12:19 AM (EST)
    My Score:

    The only fault I can find with this album is the terrible female vocals. It's not necessarily her voice but just the melodies don't fit at all and just ruin some of the songs.

    Posted by SilentStorms on 2005-02-11 00:13:01
    My Score:

    This record is sick. It doesn't say so in the review, but the instrumentals (guitars especially) are fucking mindblowing.

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