Artist: Diecast
Label: Now or Never Records
Release Date: 2/27/01
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Title: Day of Reckoning Artist: Diecast Label: Now or Never Records Release Date: 2/27/01 |
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Abyss's Review:
First off, Diecast are pretty fucking cool. They attack with a sleek, yet aggressive sound, infusing enough groove to sink a ship. A little bit Pantera, a little bit Killingculture, and a little bit Shadows Fall, with some nu-metal sensibilities. These guys sound like they could be the next thing that hits the radio, even as they keep their integrity intact.
Partially a hardcore experience, this album is catchy as all fuck, utilizing the same bobbing groove that makes the kids flock to Korn and Limp Bizkit, but that’s where the similarity ends. Instead of a rap influence they dive into an accessible hardcore influence, but wrap it around in more soulful vocals and a very structured guitar delivery. Imagine early Life of Agony with harsher vocals.
"These guys sound like they could be the next thing that hits the radio, even as they keep their integrity intact." The rhythm section on this sounds mechanized, almost industrial, but still maintains heart, enough so that you almost forget how easy this is to listen to. The vocals aren’t anything we haven’t heard before, but they do tread on different styles to keep things interesting. Screaming and chanting, they’re fun to sing along with. Fans of Shadows Fall will most likely dig this one a lot, and while I think these guys are a rung below that band, they have a lot to offer.
This album isn’t really the stuff I normally dig, but it’s easy to jump on this bandwagon. Of course, whether my attention wanes as I listen to it more and more often remains to be seen. Unfortunately, whenever something hits me this quickly and easily, it seems to have very little staying power. There are, however, exceptions to the rule, and these guys seem to have a good shot.
Death's Review:
This album fuckin’ kills. I had no idea. For some reason (probably because they had been touring with Dying Fetus -- kidding! Dying Fetus is a death metal band, and has no proclivities toward hardcore whatsoever), I had it in my head that Diecast was a hardcore band. Like a mere Hatebreed or something (again, a disclaimer: I’m not even exactly sure what Hatebreed sound like, so I guess that’s not really fair; but I definitely have a general idea and I’ve seen them live (read: been present when they were playing on that bill at some point) once or twice.) Truth be told, Diecast is a bit hardcore (in fact, being from Boston and all, maybe they are a hardcore band that is just so killer they can’t help but sound metal?) and Hatebreed is probably cooler than I’m giving them credit for being. Because Diecast offers a killer thrash metal element with actual riffs that liven things up to necksnapping level rather quickly. Total death metal, fucking grindcore shit right out of the box with “Disrepair”. Repetitive and mechanized like Fear Factory or Slipknot but more metal like Pantera and more extreme like Lamb of God. Throw in the adventurous clean vocal parts which are part Machine Head and part Shadows Fall, and you have the makings of a solid career band. It’s going to be interesting to watch Diecast develop.
"This album fuckin’ kills. I had no idea." For now, Day of Reckoning is more than enough. This fucking shit fucking killlllllssssss!!!!! Sepultura- esque riffs mixed with Fear Factory and Machine Head riffs drive “In the Shadows”. “Singled Out” has nothing to do with Jenny McCarthy, Carmen Electra, or anyone else at MTV. It is a catchy shout out, almost nu-metal shout out of harmonized vocal and power chord choruses and death metal breakdowns. One of the Metal Judgment/ Metal Update staff, Famine, called it catchy and said that songs like that were what should be on the radio. Agreed, but Diecast is still many degrees away from U.S. radio-ready in extremity. Some of it is pretty commercial, and some of it is a bit repetitive. But overall this and Soilwork are the surprise standouts of 2001. I’m psyched to see Diecast at Metal Meltdown 3.
Hel's Review:
Frankly, after looking at the press release and the packaging for this album, I never dreamed I would like it. As a general rule, I don't like hardcore. diecast (their spelling, not mine) call themselves hardcore, and judging by the picture they sent they look pretty hardcore, but I liked this a lot more than I usually like a hardcore album. Perhaps my recent affection for Shadows Fall has caused me to become less adverse to hardcore, and I just haven't listened to any since. Or perhaps the vocal similarity to Shadows Fall is the reason I liked it.
"I found Day of Reckoning entertaining to listen to and heavy enough to satisfy my anger." I have certainly become very fond of the growl/clean vocal combo of late, and both are done well here. Though it's more of a scream than a growl, I found it incredibly easy to follow the lyrics, which contributed to the overall catchiness of the songs. The guitars generally exhibited a death metal flair, and while there is nothing speedy or intricate going on, they play good heavy grooves with death metal accents.
I found Day of Reckoning entertaining to listen to and heavy enough to satisfy my anger. Unfortunately, it lacked suitable power to knock me on my ass, I was glad to be taken by surprise nonetheless. It would be unfair to just toss these guys into the "hardcore" bin, and I think they are selling themselves a bit short by doing so. Do not succumb to this fate so easily yourselves, metalheads, give this a listen.
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