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The Hurt Process / Aiden / the Audition

live in Montclair (2005)
Victory Records

Reviewer Rating:

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

Published on July 22nd 2005

Tuesday night, the Bloomfield Ave. Café hosted the "New Faces From Different Places" tour for about 150 fans on a hot evening in NJ. This tour featured Victory's new blood, Chicago's the Audition, as well as Seattle's Aiden. Headlining the the tour was England's the Hurt Process. The first three bands have their Victory debuts that were just released, or will be released in the next two months.

Starting off the show was Victory's newest band the Audition. The Audition hails from Chicago, the same scene that features Victory's other new bands the Forecast, the Junior Varsity, and Spitalfield. Chicago is becoming a melting pot for bands in this genre, which also includes established acts Fall Out Boy, Plain White T's, and the Academy Is...

The Audition is a four-piece similar to other bands in their genre, mainly Fall Out Boy. The Audition played new tracks off their debut Controversy Loves Company out September 20th on Victory, as well as "Dance Dance" off their EP. They have the look, the sound, and good stage presence, but they bring nothing new. They have a dancy power-pop sound, which is promising, but do little to establish an identity in an already-crowded genre. Maybe when the full-length is released, they will manage to stand out from the rest. Time will tell. The next band was Aiden.

Aiden from Seattle played next. Aiden is a five-piece from Seattle, Washington, and are Victory's signee as well. From a first glance, Aiden looks like a My Chemical Romance clone. From Victory's announcement of the signing, many wrote them off as just that; I know I did. How I was wrong.

Aiden look like they try way too hard. Decked out in all black, they could be poster boys for Hot Topic. From a glance, they seem like a second-rate AFI or My Chemical Romance. Singer Jake is decked out with full sleeves, neck tattoos, and looks strangly similar to Davey Havok. From first glance, anyone would write this band off as a joke.

Aiden took the stage and jumped into songs off their split with Stalin's War, A Split Of Nightmares, and their EP Our Gang's Dark Oath. They blasted through 8 or so songs, getting everyone in the crowd into it. They closed with their signature song "I Set My Friends On Fire," getting everyone to sing along.

The "New Faces Tour" introduced the masses to Aiden, as it was Aiden's first U.S. tour (they previously toured in the Midwest on school breaks and took a run with Silverstein and the Black Maria in Europe). Members Jake D and Angel actually just graduated high school this year. Suprisingly, Aiden had the biggest draw of the night, and had a small army of girls wearing tee-shirts, which is rare for a band with nothing released nationally, and never having played on this side of the country. They play an energetic type of punk/goth/glam in the vein of AFI, My Chemical Romance, and the Misfits. It's actualy a refreshing sound compared to Victory's current, generic sound. They are also some of the nicest, down-to-earth guys. Many songs had fast double-time beats over melodic punk rock. Aiden has recently picked up Victory's trophy band Hawthorne Heights' big-time management, and have an opening spot on their fall tour, which coincides with their album release on October 4th. Aiden also plan on returning to Europe in the late fall.

Aiden have all the ingridents for sucess: the look, the sound, the backing, and the live show. Expect huge things from Aiden in the near future; they will be huge. Next was England's the Hurt Process.

The Hurt Process is a five-piece from England. Described as "England's best export" from Victory Records, THP's first album Drive By Monologue received horrible reviews, and was quickly forgotten. They have a sound similar to Victory's other screamers Silverstein and Hawthorne Heights, but THP's sound comes off as a second rate rip-off, and way too formulated. Their first release was actualy a guilty pleasure of mine last year, and hearing they were finaly going to tour the U.S. (they played selected Warped dates last year), I thought I would check them out. On their new release A Heartbeat Behind, THP ditched their generic screamo sound for double-bass drumming and guitar-work in the vein of Victory's other band Atreyu. But as they came off as a second-rate Hawthorne Heights on their previous record, they come off the same on this album, just sounding like Atreyu this time.

THP isn't necessarily a bad band. The musicanship and overall sound is very well-executed, and if you overlook them sounding like everyone else, and take them for what they are, you will enjoy their album; I did. They don't reinvent the genre or bring anything new to the table, but if you look past that fact, they are very enjoyable. They played the majorty of their new album, with the exception of "This Piece" from their previous effort. The room was nearly empty after Aiden's set, but the small group of fans left in the room sang every word, and THP played for the 15 or so kids there like it was 500. They truly deserve better, and put on a great show.

Overall, "New Faces From Different Places" was a sucess. The tour showcased future stars Aiden and promising young guns the Audition, as well as the semi-established the Hurt Process. In the fall after Aiden, and the Audition's debut albums are released, we will be able to look back and remember this show as the starting point for two promising careers. Sadly, for the Hurt Process, I can only hope they dig out of the hole they are stuck in, and find their own sound.

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nicole_is_rad (December 26, 2007)

fuck all you cockcuckers.
aiden is a great band;
they just need support like all growing bands;
but other than all of your negative out looks on them they are a really good band.

go take a flying fuck at a rolling donut if you think aiden is shit

thejewvolta (January 2, 2006)

well you sir (below me)
are an idiot
I cant believe anyone paid money to see this pathetic excuse for a band

Anonymous (August 17, 2005)

They only have 4 songs on itunes but i love all of them
aiden kicks ass!

Anonymous (July 24, 2005)

"you sir, is a morion mr.below me"

haha. i'm the moron?

StormOf59 (July 24, 2005)

What about The Junior Varsity?

Anonymous (July 24, 2005)

you sir, is a morion mr.below me

Anonymous (July 23, 2005)

it's a shame we judge appearance before the music. who gives a fuck how aiden look like. they sound as good as any band on a-f records.

RondoMondo (July 22, 2005)

I think all of those bands, especially those wankers from across the Atlantic are perhaps the shittiest and un-inspired bands ever.

Darkest Hour, Dead to Fall and Streetlight Manifesto are probably the ONLY bands that actually put some kind of real emotions into their music on Victory. I don't even think the Voodoo Glows Skulls give a shit anymore.

jaxkid1 (July 22, 2005)

Ugh, proof-read your reviews.

Anonymous (July 22, 2005)

and now for something that had to have been written by a 12 year old girl
"this was a bad review. i saw this show, i had a good time. The Junior Varsity is a really awesome band! why were they not mentioned?"
these guys actually made me think about how i'd rather watch the academy is... than them. i've never seen someone who looked more like a muppet in my life and they were just completely boring and uninspired.

recordings (July 22, 2005)

i am thoroughly convinced that bands such as these, as well as victory records in general are kept afloat by teenage glamscene girls who live for their myspace page.

soon they will outnumber us all.

Anonymous (July 22, 2005)

They skipped this show for a few dates on warped.

Anonymous (July 22, 2005)

this was a bad review. i saw this show, i had a good time. The Junior Varsity is a really awesome band! why were they not mentioned?

Anonymous (July 22, 2005)

"...What? And how do you know that they're returning to europe in late fall? You're obviously on their street-team"

..They announced it in front of everyone when they were talking about touring plans for the rest of the year. How does posting what I heard make me on the street team?

-Greg

SkolarX (July 22, 2005)

i went to the detroit show for a few before heading over to see easy action (singer from negative approach's new band) and got a shirt from aiden because i liked the design then after i was slightly drunk i thought it was a great idea to buy a cd, even though i had missed them and the singer told me that if he had to define their sound it would be somewhere in the vein of my chem and avengend sevenfold. after listening to the cd once that night (i was convinced it was the worst 10 dollars ever spent) i realised that bands shouldn't read their own press releases, they sound nothing like either of those bands, they sound like a fifth rate clone of afi circa "shut your mouth". after givingi t a sober listen though, its somewhat catchy and though very unoriginal i don't completely hate the album as much as some other ones i've bought recently

Anonymous (July 22, 2005)

...what?

" Aiden looks like a ___My Chemical Romance___ clone. From Victory's announcement of the signing, many wrote them off as just that; I know I did. ____How I was wrong_______"

" They play an energetic type of punk/goth/glam in the vein of AFI, ___My Chemical Romance____, and the Misfits"

...What? And how do you know that they're returning to europe in late fall? You're obviously on their street-team.

Karasu (July 22, 2005)

Ps. I really love the emotion and despair that Aiden provides. Its so true. Im gunna go on interpunk and buy a shirt right now.

Karasu (July 22, 2005)

AIDEN!!!! WOOOOO.

I actually had the nerve to click their link on the purevolume front page. When I heard that American Psycho clip, I only waited for the best music ever.

It was recived to me through the sweet sweet tone that walkman headphones provide.

Anonymous (July 22, 2005)

"... I would have driven through a Texas Klan Rally in a pink hybrid, with a "Not my President" bumpersticker, blasting ABBA, fucking a black chick, wearing a 49ers hat and "The only thing to come from Texas are Steers and Queers" shirt, before I say this show...."
-Dante-----

fucking hilarious. i love shit like this. keeps me sane while at work. this review on the other hand was painful to read. -TOBB

Anonymous (July 22, 2005)

had i been there, this show would have made me want to die. there's nothing like seeing a bunch of awful bands with actual followings to kill your faith in music.

Anonymous (July 22, 2005)

our friend works sound at the pontiac in philly, so we got a chance to sneak in and catch about two songs from aiden. i have never laughed so much in my entire life. what a fucking joke. nothing more than updated hair metal.

Anonymous (July 22, 2005)

Dude

Anonymous (July 22, 2005)

I'm from Seattle and I've never heard of Aiden before in my life. Fuck these insta-bands.

thefunkybrother (July 22, 2005)

I don't think this review made clear on what bands are on Victory.

This show sounds worse than a massive shit after chowing down all night on Taco Bell Bean Burritos.

Anonymous (July 22, 2005)

Aiden might just be the worst thing I have ever heard. Worse than Hawthorne Heights...

Dante3000 (July 22, 2005)

I can't figure out why anyone would go to this show. Were you paid? I mean the review is alright (way more evenhanded than I would have been) but what motivates someone to see this shit? I had to review "Drive by Monolouge(SP!)" and besides having a title that made no sense the album had absolutly no songs worth remembering. I would have driven through a Texas Klan Rally in a pink hybrid, with a "Not my President" bumpersticker, blasting ABBA, fucking a black chick, wearing a 49ers hat and "The only thing to come from Texas are Steers and Queers" shirt, before I say this show.
-Dante

Anonymous (July 22, 2005)

Words cannot describe the suck that is Aiden. I couldn't believe it when they got signed. They are a joke.

maverick (July 22, 2005)

Ever wonder what shit sounds like? Wonder no longer.

-Scott

Anonymous (July 22, 2005)

Thanks dude, its my first review.

-Greg

Russe11 (July 22, 2005)

Well written review (even though I dont like any of those bands) but I found it somewhat repetitive and annoying that you repeated the bands names so many times. As long as there are paragraphs its kind of unneccesary. Just trying to help out ya know.

Russe11 (July 22, 2005)

I dont think you can be a Hawthorne heights rip off. How does that work exactly?