Life Before This
“Life Before This”
Rise Records
The Inside Pulse:
Life Before This exist for one sole reason: when a new sound catches on in the mainstream, a plethora of acts follow suit until what was once new is stripped to its most base elements, mass produced for the masses and rendered irrelevant. The truth of the matter is that Life Before This isn’t exactly a bad band, it’s just that the group doesn’t offer anything new to the table. The band, fronted by the cousin of Coheed and Cambria frontman Claudio Sanchez, does the tired alternative pop-rock all the kids are calling emo these days (with the cliche screamed and sung vocals). The band sounds like every other Hawthorn Heights and Fall Out Boy out there.
Positives:
The band is technically sound. There are a lot of interesting guitar riffs and breakdowns throughout the album, but the unimaginative singing style and general direction pull the good down.
Negatives:
As already stated, the band really brings nothing new to the table. “Life Before This” is the same album released by this genre of band since mid-2004. There are more than a few glimmers of hope, but the interesting tid-bits are swept away all too fast in favor of more tried and tested fare.
Crossbread:
Any alternative rock act on the Warped Tour circuit: Hawthorn Heights (who could be chastised in the same fashion except there are more than a few sparks of life that pull the band out of the rut Life Before This has fallen in), Senses Fail, Matchbook Romance, etc.
