Battlefields

Battlefields: Stained with the Blood of an EmpireStained with the Blood of an Empire (2006)
Init

Reviewer Rating: 4

Contributed by: AnchorsAnchors
(others by this writer | submit your own)
Published on March 6th 2007Even when quiet, there is rage. Building, festering, slowly approaching the inevitable crescendo which will cause everything to come crashing down. Those more reserved moments aren't so much a reprieve as an opportunity to brace yourself for the coming onslaught; pounding drums and riffs so heavy.

Even when quiet, there is rage.

Building, festering, slowly approaching the inevitable crescendo which will cause everything to come crashing down. Those more reserved moments aren't so much a reprieve as an opportunity to brace yourself for the coming onslaught; pounding drums and riffs so heavy they could bring down a building are never very far behind.

The loud/soft dynamic done so well by bands like Buried Inside, Angel Eyes, and the Minor Times is what helps elevate Stained with the Blood of an Empire to a much more revered status, as the flow that these four tracks ride on is one defined by unexpected action. The songs course through such a path that anticipation is impossible, leaving tracks like "Tides Up the Crescent City" in a place that requires attention to each drum pattern, each riff, each bass bridge.

There's no telling when this four-piece will combust into a cathartic musical explosion, and often there's instances where it seems for a few minutes that they're on the cusp, only to have the chord progressions peak and louden just a little bit more. That tactic is worked to perfection in the aforementioned track, as the first five minutes is spent in a tense pattern of increasing the volume as much as possible without hitting the edge, until finally the Circle Takes the Square-esque screams enter the fray and create a storm of passion only quelled by the crashing cymbals behind it. Singer and guitarist Andrew Wallin is able to build off his bandmates and adjust his vocal patterns to whatever is being played; no matter how loud or soft, no matter how fast or slow, he matches and intensifies the rhythm to create an even more chaotic situation than was present before.

"A Lifeless Polar Desert" begins in somewhat of an uncharacteristic fashion, as the vocals and instrumentation begin at the very same time, both slowly brooding, until the vocals cut out and the riffing intensifies, becoming louder but more melodic at the same time, until Wallin again unleashes some chilling screams -- and the song is only a third of a the way over. A plethora of ups, downs, twists and turns follow, with vocals cascading in and out, guitars squalling and crushing, drums and bass keeping it all in check.

While maybe not as epic as some of their counterparts, Battlefields maintain, if nothing else, a sense of dynamics. They know when to turn it up, when to turn it down, and maybe more importantly, when to just keep everyone guessing.

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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 (March 14, 2007)

BATTLEFIELDS TOUR DATES
3/27/07 Fargo, ND @ The Aquarium w/ These Arms are Snakes
3/30/07 Fargo, ND @ Red Raven w/ Hoest, In the Face of War
3/31/07 Sioux Falls, SD @ Renner Legion “INIT FEST”
4/1/07 Denver, CO @ Three Kings w/ High on Fire, Cephalic Carnage, Planes Mistaken for Stars

***Tour with Across Tundras***
4/2/07 Los Cruces, NM @ The Bean w/Across Tundras
4/3/07 Tempe, AZ @ The Space w/Across Tundras, Arc of the Aurora
4/4/07 Tuscan, AZ @ The Living Room w/Across Tundras, Alarm
4/5/07 San Diego, CA @ Scolaris Office w/Across Tundras, Zsa Zsa Gabor
4/6/07 Santa Barbara, CA @ Casa de la Raza w/Across Tundras
4/7/07 San Francisco, CA @ Thee Parkside w/Across Tundras, Totimoshi
4/8/07 Portland, OR @ Ground Kontrol w/Across Tundras, Superbad
4/9/07 Seattle, WA @ The Funhouse w/Across Tundras, The Abodox, The Hedonist

SilentStorms (March 10, 2007)

The Minor Times!?!?!?!?! Buried Inside!?!?!???! Init Records!!!?!?!?!??!??! OMG this has to be amazing! I'll pick this up without even listening to it! Seriously!!! P.S. if you like The Minor Times/Botch/Norma Jean/Engineer I would pick up anything by Llynch (they have a split with the Minor Times). Great review Anchors! Score's for the review as I haven't heard the band yet ... obvi.

Anonymous (March 8, 2007)

north dakota! nice.

dugan (March 7, 2007)

this band is sick.

Anonymous (March 7, 2007)

you can't cash in on "scene cred" points if you poast anonymously like me, but still, nice.

Anonymous (March 7, 2007)

i filled in a bunch and was really good friends with dispensing of false halos.

MASSIVE CRED POINTS, I KNOW.

but yes, this is very good. nice to see rusty doing music again.

Anonymous (March 6, 2007)

...of false halos was better.

Anonymous (March 6, 2007)

"I think I will avoid this, considering that, for perhaps only the first or second time, I have no idea what this sounds like. I haven't heard ANY of the comparison bands, and I think I'll keep it that way.
-feeeding5000"

Speak for yourself, but your'e missing out on some pretty interesting stuff. Both this band and their influences are pretty amazing.

Anonymous (March 6, 2007)

agreed.
great review, great album.

i'm glad to see some north dakota pub on this site.

Anonymous (March 6, 2007)

I think I will avoid this, considering that, for perhaps only the first or second time, I have no idea what this sounds like. I haven't heard ANY of the comparison bands, and I think I'll keep it that way.
-feeeding5000

BenAndThieves (March 6, 2007)

Also, the proper link to their Myspace page is www.myspace.com/battlefieldsdoom. The link up there right now goes to some girls page from Canada.

BenAndThieves (March 6, 2007)

Those chilling screams come mainly from vocalist Rusty Steele. Andy Wallin does the backing vocals.

Just thought I'd clarify that. Awesome review, awesome band.