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Pissed off? Looking for some music to help you release immense amounts of anger? Look no further than American Nightmare, a band that plays some blazing and brutal hardcore, with more rage than any other. This is the first full length from Wes and the boys, and definitely one of my favorite albums to come out on Equal Vision Records. Chunky as can be guitar work, lyrics with honest and heartfelt sincerity, and drum parts that race by at blazing speeds. This is an album for anyone who listens to any hardcore.
From the intro to the first track, "We Are," to the very last minute of this album, intensity and anger are present. I don't exactly know what has gone on during the life of vocalist Wes, or the other band members, but I think something went on to make him mad. His screams just give this feeling of fury, and lyrics, like "I was counting the good things about this city / the only good thing is you are not here" and "I'm just a confused kid / with the masses telling me / to join tradition / but I just can't / I'd rather die than live like you / do you get it? / I'd rather die than live like you / you don't get it" seem very heartfelt. The lyrical work is one of my favorite parts of this disc, and when I listen, I have some strange sense of independence; a righteous "fuck you" attitude. Of course, many of the songs on here pertain to troubles with members of the opposite gender, and the sometimes violent lyrics are something that so many people are able to relate to.
The music is downright heavy and speedy, rarely giving the listener a break from the intensity. The first track starts off with a blazing drum part, and continues straight into the second track "There's A Black Hole In The Shadow," which is one of my favorite tracks on the album. "AM/PM" slows things down a little bit, with a chorus that really sticks in your head, and a nice, heavy breakdown during the second half of the song. Other highlight tracks include, well, the rest of the disc. All of the songs convey such emotion, and there isn't a single bad tune. I could run through the tracks and give you some lyrical samples and describe the music in some sense, but the short examples I have already given should be enough to know if this music is for you.
The album's production is quite nice, not attempting to be overly large or deep, but really giving the vocals priority, as well as the drums. Its those two parts that really seem to make this music what it is. And to go along with the very nice sound is some awesome art work, with very readable and nicely laid out liner notes. I must commend the band and artist on creating a package that is even nice for the eyes.
I recommend this album, which encompasses intensity, heartfelt emotion, and brutal honesty, all in just over 20 minutes, to any fans of the hardcore genre. Some may draw comparisons to bands like Kill Your Idols, Raised Fist, and The Hope Conspiracy, but I honestly think they have created their own sort of sound. There aren't many bands out there who are able to create music the way American Nightmare does, and I urge fans of punk rock with an edge and hardcore fans to check this album out. I highly doubt there will be any dissappointment.
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