Time Signature Only posers die...

Genre: metalcore

I must admit that my perception of metalcore has changed over the last couple of years. When I first discovered it, I did not share the disdain that many of my metalheads have towards the genre, but as I have become acquainted with more and more metalcore acts, the genre in general (I still enjoy a lot of individual metalcore acts, though) has started to bore me with its formulaicness and lack of innovation.

Tear Out the Heart's Violence is in many ways the epitome of metalcore. It features all the aesthetics that I am sure dedicated metalcore fans love to love and purist metalheads love to hate. Thus you have the heavy grooves and the breakdowns. You have the screamo-ish vocals in the verses and the clean vocals in the choruses. Plus Tear Out the Heart do import a couple of elements from modern pop music, too. And the band members can tick all the items on their image checklist as well, sporting typical metalcore fashion. I must say that many of the riffs and grooves on the album are pretty solid, some even being pretty awesome, but overall the album sounds too standard for my tastes.

It's not bad, but it's not outstanding either. It does not rock my world, and I am not likely to go back to it if I want a metalcore fix, as there are other artists within that genre that are much more interesting to my ears.

Still, if you are a dedicated metalcore fan, why not check out the album? It has all the aesthetics of metalcore, so chances are you will like it.

(review originally posted at seaoftranquility.org)