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I'm kicking myself for not making an effort to get to know Life In Your Way years ago. Sure, I've got some excuses -- the band's first two full lengths were released on the very hit-and-miss Indianola Records, and there's a "melodic Christian hardcore" stigma looming about their music, nudging me away since I'm not as down with Jesus. But, now that Waking Giants is in my hands, I've been smacked with the realization that those excuses are lame, and I'm practically drooling over Life In Your Way.
Waking Giants is a sleek, natural and fluid blend of styles that draws upon Misery Signals' dynamic atmospherics, Hopesfall's rhythmic, detailed melodies, and Shai Hulud's introspective and complex brand of melodic hardcore. While a thunderous, anvil-like heaviness -- usually in the form of crushing guitar riffs, fervent drumming and throat-shredding screams -- dominates the album, Life In Your Way demonstrates a largely unmatched ability to seamlessly let detailed, tasteful melodies steal the focus at just the right times. Delicate, polished guitar picking, melodic chord progressions, emotive singing -- it's all here, and it's executed with a veteran's skill. And unlike a Beloved record, for instance, Waking Giants' heavy and melodic sides aren't polar opposites; the record almost always sounds "big," and its transitions are as smooth as warm butter.
"Making Waves" is a stellar example of Life In Your Way's heavy, melodic delivery. Opening with soft crooning and clean guitar strumming, the song erupts into a busy, screaming-slathered part before relaxing for two minutes of layered, mid-paced melodic rock. Shimmering guitar leads accent the warm singing and thick, stop-start guitar chords, highlighting the band's deep, textured sound. "Help! The Arm of the Mighty" steadily flows at a medium pace, eventually exploding with soaring repetitions of "I will never leave you!" It sounds a little cheesy, but, over the thumping rhythm section, it's chilling.
Making everything come to life is the band's sincerity and passion. Like Shai Hulud and the long-lost Strongarm, Life In Your Way pumps their energy straight into the music and there's nary a dull moment. Joshua Kellam contributes an absolutely riveting onslaught of throaty, screamed vocals, convincing me that he means every word -- even those that are simply spoken. Listen to "Salty Grave, undoubtedly the record's most impassioned song, for a taste. Kellam uses restraint to build up to the climactic, mid-song sing-along, creating a contrast that's spine-tingling in every sense.
Waking Giants is the first release of 2007 to floor me. The depth of sound that the record presents is rarely recreated in metal and hardcore music and the positive lyrical themes -- even the those that go back to the band's faith -- are more heartwarming than annoying. My skepticism is gone; I'm ready -- anticipating it, even -- to go and listen to anything Life In Your Way has done.
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