Genre: Metalcore
Origin: Finland
Released: 2009
Website: Split Second Eyes Wide
Label: -
Uploaded: 25.01.10

I’ve always said I’d review everything sent to me, no matter what genre, but every now and then I get a promo that I really wish I didn’t have to review. Sometimes it’s because a record just outright suck but I still have to listen to the damn thing, and other times (as is the case with this one) it’s a genre that’s completely lost on me. First off I can’t stand what’s nowadays referred to as the ‘Gothenburg sound’, and I hate metalcore. So what to do when a band combines the two genres into an ultra-melodic outcome… The promo sheet promised energetic, raw and catchy melody, but it didn’t take more than a few seconds into Defying fate before I realized this was way more melodic than I could ever have anticipated; and hence surely wasn’t my cup of tea. I’m not sure why some bands and labels send me promos, but as I’ve said I won’t deny it a review anyhow.
There’s definitely nothing wrong with their confidence in their own music, and attitude wise they seem hell-bent on conquering the charts worldwide. The riffing the lads serve is often firmly set in the Gothenburg-ish sound, offering very melodic metal one the verge of death metal, but on occasions flirting heavily with modern thrash as well. But I’m confused, ‘cause while they claim to want to play metal it all reeks pop, I’m sad to say. Vocally it’s of course clean but with the occasional scream (as one expects it to be), but the seriously clean parts of it doesn’t even come close to high standard. At times it’s painfully weak and sounds more like a garage punk band in the early nineties that never made more than one or two obscure demo recordings. Unfortunately this also carries on into the music as the production isn’t very heavy, and doesn’t really contain any power whatsoever.
Split Second Eyes Wide opens up (after a redundant intro) with a fairly fast tempo and slick, catchy riffing in Defying fate, but this doesn’t continue on for very long. More than often the drums slow down to the point where they no longer bring anything to the table, and the energy they could’ve contributed with is lost. I guess there’s nothing wrong with their competence, and maybe this is what they want to sound like, but to me they have some ways to go before accomplishing their sound. As it is now it’s a punky and metalcore-ish act that could very well gain a buttload of young women (and some men, I suppose) as fans, but it’s just too damn melodic, almost on the verge of emo. Not for me.

Tracklist:
01. Overture 301
02. Defying fate
03. Nailed
04. Scars tell a different tale
05. Machines
06. The cage
07. Slow I go
08. Of entropy and disarray
09. Closure
10. Deleted scenes of reality