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There have been a slew of bands that have taken a slightly lighter approach to their music by adding some melody to their vocals, as well as incorporating some elements of more accessible music. We've noticed it happen to big name bands like Poison The Well, and with the growing popularity of emotional, melodic metalcore, more and more bands are continuing to lighten their approach. Of course, the recent growth in this style of music has excited many, but there just seems to be one too many bands that don't detach themselves from the normal. Some bands are obviously able to perform the singing/screaming combination, such as Poison The Well and Avenged Sevenfold, but others are better off sticking to their heavy side. Such is the case with A Long Winter. Sometimes, their music is very heavy and the vocals range from deep growls to raspy screams, but at other times, the music seems slightly uninspired.
As I listen to "I'm So Bad With Goodbyes..." I constantly wish that A Long Winter would simply stick to their heavier side. The singing is good, don't get me wrong, and I enjoy it at times. But A Long Winter incorporates more singing than what you'd find on the new Remembering Never album, or Poison The Well's "Opposite Of December," and usually, the music's intensity factor suffers from this. I'm not sure that this band really wants to have a light sound, but they are definitely looking to be more accessible. Not too long ago, I probably would have adored this album's vocals, but now, I am in search of heavier music. Music that doesn't fall victim to one of today's trends (being metalcore mixed with elements of melody).
Luckily, however, A Long Winter sounds really great when they are at their heavier moments. The final track, "The Summers Seem Like Days, And The Days Seem Like Seconds," shows the band's ability to throw in some huge breakdowns and double bass action. "Razel Got Her Wings" starts off sounding like a serious sort of pop-punk song, but by the end of the second minute, the growling screams are in place, and things get pretty chaotic. At the end of the song, we're treated to a gigantic breakdown, and it just makes me wish that all of the songs got this heavy. Track two, "She's Gone But Her Ghost Still Haunts Me," starts at blazing speeds, showing the band's ability to shift the pace and throw in some variety. Many of the remaining tracks on this album follow a similar formula, combining lots of big breakdowns, tempo changes and vocals ranging from melodic singing to some of the deepest growls imaginable.
Most of the time, this album is quite good. After listening to "I'm So Bad With Goodbyes," I feel satisfied with A Long Winter's work, but wish that things were a little bit more intense at times. For those of you who really adore a good helping of melody with your metalcore, A Long Winter will definitely satisfy. The many vocal styles help to create a lot of variety, and the band also proves their ability to compete with some of today's heavier outfits. But, if you find yourself a little bit tired of the numerous bands that have released music of this style, you may want to do yourself a favor and give A Long Winter a listen before purchasing. A good album by A Long Winter, all I hope is that on future efforts, the band focuses their efforts on the heavier side of the music.
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