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Life in Your Way

Waking Giants (2007)
Solid State Records

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

Published on May 29th 2007

There are a few things you can count on from a Solid State release. The band will somehow be affiliated with hardcore, or “heavy” music, the production will be crystal clear, the packaging will be just as crisp -- featuring photos or artwork that has been through a computer more than once, and the band will thank Jesus somewhere in the liner notes. So rather than dwell on these prerequisites, let’s just say Life in Your Way have put a big fat check next to each one.

Waking Giants shows a Solid State band that are less metal than August Burns Red and less noisy than the the Chariot; in fact, the labelmates they are most sonically related to are Underoath. Their songs move in the same way, shifting dynamics from emo’s smooth veneer to post-hardcore’s jagged edges. They even throw in some metalcore breakdowns and atmospherics for good measure, and in case you haven’t already guessed there is a screamer and a singer.

The problem is that Life in Your Way’s hooks aren’t big enough to catch the kind of audience Underoath is currently enjoying, nor are their chops fat enough to feed a bevy of heavy music fans that thrive on technicality and brutality. What you are left with is a band that wants to be both heavy and melodic, but can’t seem to edge past mediocre status in either.

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Anonymous (May 31, 2007)

This band is fucking garbage.

Anonymous (May 31, 2007)

This band bores me.

inagreendase (May 30, 2007)

This album sounds a shitton like Shai Hulud and Beloved but the songs don't really go anywhere. Pity.

danperrone (May 30, 2007)

their first album had like three really fantastic songs

this album had no good songs...baaaad

SilentStorms (May 30, 2007)

I thought their first album was pretty good, but (in my opinion) they started sliding down the slippery slope that is hardcore/mainstream/sing/scream/religious shite. Only an opinion of course, but a well educated one. This cd could have been done by at least 10 other bands and sounded very similar. Metal/Punk has been done to death, especially since Thursday, Poison the Well, and Hopesfall got popular, big pass. BIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIG PASS.

P.S. Thursday is definately not Metal, but influence is. Score is for these guys' first LP.

Anonymous (May 29, 2007)

This review couldn't be farther from the truth. Forget the label and the list of bands that are signed to the label. Let's look at this cd, the body of work. This is by far Life In Your Way's best cd. The first one was great and the last one, Ignite & Rebuild was good. Walking Giants is titanic. Fans of Beloved, Life In Your Way and any other emotional hardcore bands with some metal crunch will love this cd. The re-tooled version of Threads Of Sincerity is amazing. The end breakdown and chorus (I sink...to my salty grave...I drown!) of Salty Grave is earth shattering. The Harmonies in We Don't Believe are truly uplifting. Other standouts are Worthwhile, Making Waves, Judas and Beneath It All. If you like hardcore with tempo changing from soothing to smashing you'll like this one. One of the best CD's of the year and i don't care if the band is religious or on Solid State.

Anonymous (May 29, 2007)

my fav of this year.....besides magnetic north

Allular (May 29, 2007)

Is it possible that a review could have a second glance-over written by someone else?

Either it be a negative or positive review, I'm sure somebody could write a much better review than this.

Allular (May 29, 2007)

What does Shai Hulud and Strongarm have anything to do with this review? (big woop, christian influences) Strongarm broke up a long time ago and Shai Hulud was never on solid state. He is just talking about what this label has become.

"I think the person who mentioned Shai Hulud and Strongarm was referring to the fact that the two are some of the band's influences."

Exactly right.

Sally_Field (May 29, 2007)

What does Shai Hulud and Strongarm have anything to do with this review? (big woop, christian influences) Strongarm broke up a long time ago and Shai Hulud was never on solid state. He is just talking about what this label has become.

I think the person who mentioned Shai Hulud and Strongarm was referring to the fact that the two are some of the band's influences.

Sally_Field (May 29, 2007)

Eh, I could see really focusing on the label if the band's sound drastically changed after they signed to it, but that wasn't really the case. Still sounds like Life in Your Way.

Anonymous (May 29, 2007)

hahahahaha great short review. solid state is a joke. this band is laughable. im cracking up. if you love jesus, everything will be fine. the devil is all your temptations. give me a break . down with christian hardcore.

seagel_inc (May 29, 2007)

this review seems to be focused on dissing solid state (ie christian bands) rather then accepting the band on their own terms. as an athiest, i've found the last two LIYW albums pleasant but have yet to hear this entire album but from what I heard, it's not too shabby. though, i would recommend their first album as their best.

jamespastepunk (May 29, 2007)

He probably hasn't.

Allular (May 29, 2007)

Sounds like the reviewer has never heard Shai Hulud or Strongarm.

SilentStorms (May 29, 2007)

Dahahahaha, that first paragraph is soooo true! Score is for the review!