The Banner

The Banner: Each Breath HauntedEach Breath Haunted (2005)
Ferret Records

Reviewer Rating: 3.5

Contributed by: AnchorsAnchors
(others by this writer | submit your own)
Published on September 23rd 2005The Banner is one of those bands. The Banner is one of those bands that you have the opportunity to see live, and either can't go, or you just say, "eh, I'll catch them next time." And before that next time comes around, you actually listen to their record, and all you can muster is "goddamnit." .

The Banner is one of those bands.

The Banner is one of those bands that you have the opportunity to see live, and either can't go, or you just say, "eh, I'll catch them next time." And before that next time comes around, you actually listen to their record, and all you can muster is "goddamnit." I had the opportunity to catch them in Syracuse over the summer, and opted otherwise, but I'm very much regretting it upon hearing Each Breath Haunted.

Thirteen tracks that mix the spirit of old-school hardcore, elements of screamo's heyday, and some rock'n'roll for good measure. Add to that mixture a lot of dark, vivid lyrical and musical imagery, and you, in a nutshell, have the Banner. At its core a hardcore record, the added elements help them to branch out without the sound ever growing stale. "An Allergy To Sun" incorporates some great metallic riffs that really carry the song, while Blackhood incorporates some strong gang vocals. And while on the subject of vocals, singer Joey Southside thrusts a range of vocal styles to the forefront of the Banner's music; from the harsh screams of "Tragedy" to the straightforward, hardcore style of "Coffin Nails," it all works. It's just as versatile as they were intending, not just in vocals, but with the overall sounds of the tracks. The aforementioned "An Allergy..." sounds a good deal like Every Time I Die in parts, while the chaotic opener "Devilhawks" expands more on the screamo background the band possesses. "Hell On A Horse" displays the band at their absolute best. Opening the song with some squealing guitar and slowly increasing in volume, the song is a real dose of heavy, heavy music .The band's lyrics are definitely of note as well:

I make myself a bed of angels' wings, and crawl inside to warm my face and reptile skin / Crippled and limping at the torture of a thousand blades / My reign below the surface sheltered the shade of all my sins / I'm denied catharsis at every turn / And these hateful wounds will just not scab.

That excerpt from "Muddweller" gives a peek into the sort of imagery that litters the rest of the songs. When coupled with the dark nature of the music, unrelenting guitar work and drum fills pound away. That's not to say the tempos don't get changed up, however, as "Interlude" and "Sovereign Of The Black Pit" offer far more subdued, instrumental efforts that segue well into the harder songs.

A terrific debut from one of Ferret's newer signings, and it serves as a prelude for some great things to come. An album that depends just as much on atmosphere as it does on brutality, Each Breath Haunted impresses in just about every possible area. A tight, heavy, and unrelenting sound that owns you for its almost 45-minute duration, never wavering, and never losing interest. This is definitely an album making me wish the Banner weren't one of those bands.

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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.

shieldmyeyes (March 11, 2010)

they put on a a great show. caught them a few years back and all hell broke loose.

Anonymous (April 6, 2006)

fucking insane....ive been to 8 banner show and each one of them are just crazy you cant explain the feeling...o by the way fuck all of you people who dont like this the banner is brining a whole new level to hardcore

Anonymous (September 28, 2005)

aw man that onion ring sauce is so gross dude..props if you can handle it, i gagged trying to eat it. what's up with burger king these days, i guess their whole "Sell it to the blacks" gimmick didn't work so they're aiming at the whites now. WHAT ABOUT IS ASIANS!?!?! WE GET NOTHING! it's bad enough we can't say "I'm lovin' it" because it just comes out like "I'm ruvin it'

rkl (September 28, 2005)

I make myself a bed of angels' wings, and crawl inside to warm my face and reptile skin / Crippled and limping at the torture of a thousand blades / My reign below the surface sheltered the shade of all my sins / I'm denied catharsis at every turn / And these hateful wounds will just not scab.
maybe they could tour with atreyu... god, ferret sucks. its like vagrant for screamo.

RondoMondo (September 26, 2005)

Great cd.

stevejonestherealbones (September 26, 2005)

the zesty onion ring sauce that burger king has is some of the tastiest shit ever

- jones the bones

- stevejones8770@yahoo.com

crazytoledo (September 25, 2005)

Its not that they are really bad or anything... I just hated the mix and production.

davebrave4 (September 25, 2005)

The cover looks like that of a street punk band.

Anonymous (September 24, 2005)

"Will, are you vegan or does the idea of rock and roll chickens just excite you for whatever reason?"

Nah, I'm veggie. And those chickens are kick fucking ass. Remember the time their singer slapped a box of chicken fries out of that clown guy's hand? That was awesome.

Love,
Will

Anonymous (September 24, 2005)

After reading this I am convinced that Ferret pays people to say good things about this record. It is honestly unlistenable.

Anchors (September 23, 2005)

Said by the same kid who gave Lovehatehero a 9. Please.

crazytoledo (September 23, 2005)

Banner suck.

kenjamin (September 23, 2005)

Will, are you vegan or does the idea of rock and roll chickens just excite you for whatever reason?

aubin (September 23, 2005)

This album is really solid. I know everyone is going to assume it's metalcore because it's on Ferret, but it's more like a Danzig retrospective made into a hardcore band; there are bits of the Misfits, Samhain and Danzig (the band) throughout and it comes across really well.

inagreendase (September 23, 2005)

I couldn't really get into this, which was too bad considering their first record would've been pretty good if they cooled it on the constant zombie and B-horror movie imagery, and this doesn't really have any of it.

Anonymous (September 23, 2005)

The cover reminds me of the Chicken Fry band, Coq Roq, who probably own these fools.

-Will

theundergroundscene (September 23, 2005)

eh

this kinda sucks