40
Below Summer made a name for themselves in the New York/New
Jersey area ever since they formed at the turn of the century.
After the release of their debut album in 2001, 40 Below's
fan base deservedly grew beyond the metro area. As a nu metal
band amid the oversaturation of the genre by the major labels,
40 Below Summer had to be better than the norm and they were.
To
further distance themselves from the pack, they have evolved
as a band in the two years since Invitation To The Dance hit.
The quintet injected even more melodies and breakdowns into
the songs while cutting down on the rapped vocals. Instead,
frontman Max Illidge (who was also the little boy in the Talking
Heads "Burning Down The House" video back in the day) explores
the depths of his voice. While his growling and anxious yelling
is still there, Illidge actually sings on most of the tracks
- almost to the point of crooning during "Awakening".
Cristian
Machado, the dreadlocked lead singer of Ill Nino, guests on
"F.E.". Sadly it is one of the worse tracks on the album.
It is a one dimensional, 'nu metal' song that doesn't see
the two vocalists combining their vocal powers in other way
than yelling.
Sadly
there isn't much of an evolution in the other aspects of their
music, but that is pretty forgivable. Jordan Plingos' and
Joe D'Amico's guitars often keep to the same lines, just adding
power to the melodies or charging along during choruses. Bassist
Hector Graziani remains in the background, lending support
to the guitars or to Carlos Aguilar's drums. The main focus
is purely upon Illidge and the evolution of his vocals. "Breathless"
showcases his new energy and emotion and is easily the best
song on the sophomore release.
Illidge
ends "A season in hell", the 'last' song on the album (before
the bonus track) with a whispered lyric - "can you feel the
end?" The Mourning After shows that the end should be far
away for 40 Below Summer.
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