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Bad Religion - New Maps of Hell (Deluxe)
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Deathwish's 2005 Hardcore Parade continues with Killing the Dream, and while their proper debut full-length may not be as overpowering as some of the label's other recent offerings, what it does offer is a solid half-hour of no-frills intensity.

The band receives incessant comparisons to Bane and Comeback Kid, and while musically, KtD play the same style of mostly breakdown-free, slightly more punk-influenced hardcore in comparison to many of their peers, they're notably more intense and angry in the vocal area, giving them about as much distance inside of the genre as possible. Elijah Horner has an irrefutably harsh voice, searing his chords until they're suffering from practical self-inflicted burn wounds. And while the aforementioned bands usually rely on positive vibes, In Place, Apart is a rather bleak, dark record. It's filled with hopeless observations left and right like "it's been so long since it's rained this hard / so I'll drive with the windows down to remember how it felt to be alive" and "fuck this town / fucking walk away / just walk away to die / ... / fuck everything / our youth is spent fucking blind." "If it Rains" contains the record's sole bit of harmonizing, and it's an absolutely helpless-sounding vocal melody at that. While most of the album is unrelentingly up-tempoed, the mid-section of the record seems to let up a bit solely to offer two of the bit more anthemic, "epic" tracks with "Where the Heart Is" and "We're All Dead Ends," though closer "Four Years Too Late" ends things well with a maniuplated buildup running through its course.

In Place, Apart is a definitively promising debut of sorts. It's fair to say the band would do well to expand on the rare moments of melody here and give its tight rhythm section and guitarists who show the occasional flash of brilliance a bit more prominence, but right now, a solid recording and inspired sound should do well for Killing the Dream, too.

MP3
Rough Draft



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    Posted by Anonymous on Monday, April 24, 2006 at 2:35 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    this band is the best ever if they break up i will cry 4 ever

    Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, February 16, 2006 at 11:58 AM (EST)
    My Score:

    This record is great, these guys are only getting started. The drummer is amazing. My favorite song is Sick of Sleeping, it rips. go get this record.

    Posted by etwiels88 on 2006-02-13 18:03:45
    My Score:

    This album easily gets four stars. Fucking great album and band.

    Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, December 25, 2005 at 1:56 AM (EST)

    If you like this band check out THE VOICE www.myspace.com/thevoicethevoice.
    They and KTD have 2 of the same members

    Posted by Anonymous on Monday, November 7, 2005 at 6:21 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    the best band ever

    Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, October 15, 2005 at 10:23 PM (EDT)

    Pressure Point
    Killing the Dream(Lp release show)
    Hanover Saints
    The Answer
    The Long Run

    Friday October 21
    Boardwalk
    Orangeville California
    7 pm

    Posted by inagreendase on 2005-10-15 00:40:17

    I know their respective earlier material was pretty brim-filled, but you can't tell me the breakdowns on either of those band's newest records aren't few and far between. Not that it's a bad or good thing.

    That, and I don't think most of you understood that I was trying to deflect the Bane/CK comparisons the band consistently receives through press, other reviews, etc.

    Posted by colton on 2005-10-14 20:48:37

    GIve him a break, faggot. He normally listens to Kid Dynamite and stuff that is actually labeled "melodic hardcore."

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, October 14, 2005 at 7:12 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    the dude who reviewed this is fucking crazy. there's tons of melody on this record, and this record is MUCH better than just a 'solid debut.' shit man, fix your fucking ears.

    Posted by colton on 2005-10-14 17:34:28

    Cursed is way sludgier and darker.

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, October 14, 2005 at 2:26 PM (EDT)

    ehhh, i'm gonna disagree with you about the cursed thing.

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, October 14, 2005 at 1:26 PM (EDT)

    i like this mp3 alot.......doesnt sound like either of those bands........ i havent heard much from cursed but im getting a cursed vibe from this......anyone want to confirm this i might just be talking shit

    Posted by colton on 2005-10-14 13:23:38

    P.S. We're all fucked, SO FUCK IT UP.

    Posted by colton on 2005-10-14 13:21:43

    Brian, all of those bands, including Killing the Dream, do indeed have breakdowns. Anyways, this cd is way better than a 3/5, c'mon.

    Posted by bizzlebrizzle on 2005-10-14 13:17:07

    Bane is breakdown free!?

    WHA?

    Posted by inagreendase on 2005-10-14 11:57:09

    The font on the spine looked an awful lot like Ryan Patterson's signature style until I actually held KTD's up next to one of Patterson's. It's still a really similar formula (bolded band name, unbolded album title, label initials and catalog number subscripted).

    Posted by benz on 2005-10-14 08:00:31

    Even though this cover is really stereotypical of the genre, I like it. I assume Jacob Bannon made it since it's on deathwish. Haven't heard this, but Deathwish is a real solid label.

    -benz

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, October 14, 2005 at 3:05 AM (EDT)
    My Score:

    haven't heard this one yet, but i'm a big fan of their last one. intense as hell, though i wouldn't really compare them to bane or comeback kid.

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, October 14, 2005 at 2:29 AM (EDT)

    Jacob Bannon is an emokid.

    Posted by SomeoneAnonymous on 2005-10-14 02:22:13

    Now that is some real emo cover art.

    Posted by soulbleed on 2005-10-14 01:43:17
    My Score:

    this is good. recommended.

    Posted by Flowbee on 2005-10-14 00:40:40

    Their last full length was so good. The Goonies quote at the end of it is beauty. I can't wait to pick this one up.

    And I actually kinda like the incredibly stereotypical cover.

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