The Summary Judgment Review:
Title: Asylum of the Human Predator
Artist: Hell Within
Label: Lifeforce Records
Release Date: 4/19/05

Rating: 2 Skulls
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    • Reviewed by Trollhammer (9/9/05):
    Ah, metalcore. What can one say? One hears such music and one can only think, how many more of these bands can there POSSIBLY be? Well, Twytch, er, um, Hell Within, answers that question affirmatively with their latest release entitled Asylum of the Human Predator. Before I proceed, I must establish one thing: there is no doubt that this band is CLEARLY a metalcore band. And the reason I feel I must establish this is because I feel that one needs to adjust his or her music mode to truly personify and paint a clearer picture of the band. Let's face it; metalcore is not metal, no matter how much it wants to be. So, standard metal terms such as "Skank Beat," "Blast Beat," "Death Metal Vocals," "Guitar Solo," and the like are used in a quite different light.

    That said; let us proceed to this Lifeforce release by these Bostonians. As you can guess from my above statements, this band was not always called "Hell Within." They were formerly dubbed "Twytch," and due to a CLEARLY wise choice by some record exec over at Lifeforce they have their current appellation. As far as the SOUND of the record is concerned, it sounds great, if you like production similar to Shadows Fall, Killswitch Engage, Unearth, etc. In other words, a HORRID representation of what the band actually sounds like, but a great sound nonetheless. Completely LIFELESS drum sound, as if a computer were playing, which I am sure is not far from the truth. Very excellent guitar/bass tone, crushing and heavy. There are definitely guitar solos, but they are certainly not a focus, as they should be. It sounds as if guitarist Isaias Martinez has a good ability for it, but not only is it not showcased, it doesn't sound well rehearsed, and is SEVERELY out of tune. And then there are the vocals. Well, they are metalcore vocals. I hate to use the term "death metal" vocals because it seems an insult to the style, but to the untrained ear, it all sounds the same I suppose. You all know what I'm talking about: the screaming "I'm brutal" growls, and then the huge "Now I'm sensitive" clean vocals on chorus/pre-choruses and the like. And then there's always the combination "I'm sensitive but also brutal" clean and growling vocals on some parts that every band of this style thinks they are geniuses for pioneering. Well, I suppose one doesn't have much choice when one plays in a metalcore band.

    The promo words on the copy I received labeled the band "one part Slayer, one part Hatebreed, all parts honest." Nothing could be further from the truth. Except maybe for the Hatebreed part of it. But to bring Slayer into it is simply blasphemy. Extremely predictable and somewhat boring, Hell Within represents everything of what it is to be a "metal" band caught in the race to be bigger than Shadows Fall, similar in style and sound. I really should admit though, that even for one of these unfortunate bands, they have a lot of promising writing ability and some seriously grooving parts. But after seeing these guys live it's really hard to say this album accurately represents what they are, both in musical ability and stylistic association. Because it just plain does not. At one of their shows you will find plenty of pits, plenty of hair over ONE goddamn eye, and plenty of 14 year old girls trying to get with these morons that wear it like that. One thing I would like to say to these people: either grow it out like Corpsegrinder, or don't fucking grow it at all. Fags, all.

    Now, I'm sure from the above comments, you will think I come from a biased standpoint on the band and the style. Well, I fucking do. As a musician and reviewer, I feel I must speak out for the metallers that don't need ProTools to sound label-acceptable. That said, I think Hell Within has a lot of potential, but like many other very able bands of their style, they are caught up in the endless metalcore/overproduced/under-integral army of musicians that Hatebreed and Shadows Fall are directly responsible for breeding. A must for fans of Shadows Fall, Unearth, Hatebreed, and the like. ACTUAL metalheads, don't even bother.
    2 out of 5

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