Artist: Stampin' Ground
Label: Century Media Records
Release Date: 1/27/04
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Title: A New Darkness Upon Us Artist: Stampin' Ground Label: Century Media Records Release Date: 1/27/04 |
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Abyss's Review:
This band seems less like a true band than a collage of hardcore stereotypes crammed together. Everything from their moronic monniker to their overly repetitive choruses reek of the most predictable, generic hardcore/metalcore. A more appropriate album title would have been "This Is Stampin' Ground."Their whole formula strikes me as unambitious and contrived. They remain, at heart, a hardcore band, sewing Anselmo-esque vocals over obvious breakdowns throughout most of the album. But then in a bid to show their 'crossover' appeal, they have a few songs in which the hardcore breakdowns give way to Slayer riffs, in what seems a desperate attempt to expand their fanbase into the metal scene.
"One word review: Vanilla." In many ways this album strikes me in the same way that Billy Milano's The Rebel You Love To Hate did. The songs here sound like impressive parodies minus the punchlines. So it's entertaining to a point, but that dosen't mean I can take it as seriously as it is intended to be. Let's face it, Phil Hartman used to do a killer Clinton impression, but that didn't mean I wanted him running the country. It's not that the songs don't have any hook, in fact just about every hardcore album can make you pump your fist in the air if you're in the mood. Hell, that's the intrinsic value of hardcore, simple breakdowns that are successful because, well... they're simple. But the simple fact is that this band is treading over well-traveled ground.
Of course, fans of bands like Chimaira, Earth Crisis, Biohazard, and Hatebreed should take what I say with a grain of salt because I don't like much of this genre. But each of those bands (well, except maybe Biohazard) have more to offer than this. If you like stuff in this vein, check out the recent output by Watch Them Die, Dead To Fall, and Darkest Hour - they are doing stuff which is far more interesting. One word review: Vanilla.
Death's Review:
UK metalcore is not what I’m looking for these days, but thrash-infused UK metalcore does pique my interest somewhat. I’m pleased to report that Stampin’ Ground aren’t nearly as bad as you might think just hearing the name. Blending elements of metal heavyweights like Slayer, Lamb of God and Pantera with brutal hardcore like Hatebreed and Superjoint Ritual and melodic metalcore like Diecast or Unearth, Stampin’ Ground might best be described as technical, 21st century thrash-core. The results are usually decent, but sometimes are mixed. Sometimes they sound like classic Bay Area thrash for a moment, sometimes they sound like Slayer, sometimes more like a rehashed GRIP, Inc., other times they sound like an annoying whiny hardcore band. The riffs are pretty cool, with a raw, low production value mixed with crunchy, Pantera-ish, thrashy riffing and old Slayer-esque melodic guitar lines. The drums generally attack with double-bass thrashing fury. But the singer is like a more hardcore, much more annoying Phil Anselmo, adopting all of Anselmo’s tough guy posturing without the better part of his talent. In the end, the stuff comes across as OK, sometimes pretty cool but often fairly generic. There’s nothing wrong with the album, but it isn’t essential. If you still are looking for metalcore bands, you might get into this.
"I think the jury is still out on these guys." I must point out that Stampin’ Ground sound like they could possibly be fun to see live (I can imagine brutal pits forming for several of the parts). But, in the end, the album is only mediocre. Not quite as heavy or as catchy as Hatebreed, but more technical and more melodic. There are some cool dual-guitar technical thrash riffs, but there are just as many boring hardcore parts too. I especially dislike when metalcore bands emphasize the “core” over the metal, and to a degree that is what happens here. Some of you will like this, but likely only a few will absolutely love it. I think the jury is still out on these guys.
Hel's Review:
The only possible place for me to begin this review is with the band name. Stampin’ Ground? Ok, now there’s a dumb-sounding one. Not winning me over with that, I’ll tell you. Fortunately, the music is much better than the name of the band would have you believe.At this point, it’s pretty much a given that if you hand me a predominately hardcore album, I’m probably not going to like it all that much. Lucky for me that the “core” in these boys’ hardcore is the least offensive type in my book. They clearly adhere to the old-school philosophy but do not drench their lyrics with hit-me-over-the-head life lessons like some other bands I could name.
"Stampin’ Ground manages to separate themselves slightly from the ever-growing pack of metalcore wannabes and stands apart as a band striving to create their own sound within this niche. " Hardcore is certainly only one of the elements Stampin’ Ground brings into play however. There is also a very strong thrash element in their style, and it is this twist that brings this band away from the brink of sheer mediocrity. The juxtaposition of styles works well in most instances, and makes the album much more palatable as a whole. However, there are times when the two are not melded well, let alone seamlessly, and at these times the songs sort of wander into the land of confusion.
Yet, while some of the songs do lack cohesion, there is still a great deal to be said for the material on this album. Stampin’ Ground manages to separate themselves slightly from the ever-growing pack of metalcore wannabes and stands apart as a band striving to create their own sound within this niche.
I give them bonus points for that, and while my personal inclination would be to hand these boys three skulls and send them packing back to the U.K. to try again, I nevertheless believe that for those people who are huge into this sound, this band has something of value to offer. Therefore, I will upgrade this to a four, but I’d call it a low four. Metalcore fiends should surely give this one a spin, and others would do well to request that their buddies play this instead of something more offensive the next time they insist on slapping on some ‘core when you’re hanging out.
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