Jude The Obscure

Grimsby, ON may not be known for much besides its excellent name, but at least they have Jude The Obscure. Another Canadian metallic hardcore band on the rise (watch out, we’ll have a movement soon if this keeps up), Jude, who take their name from a controversial book by Thomas Hardy (or have one hell of a coincidence on their hands), surprise with The Coldest Winter. Maybe not as catchy or adept at songwriting as Every Time I Die, to whom Jude have garnered a number of comparisons, the technical thrash, strained vocals, drive and melodic anguish of Until Your Heart Stops-era Cave In and When Forever Comes Crashing-era Converge are predominant influences here. As well, flashes of older Poison The Well, the End, 18 Visions, and, yes, ETID, can be detected. Combining intricate metal riffing (Slayer!), some gargantuan breaks, a generally up-tempo assault and some strong musicianship (tech without being a blur), The Coldest Winter is brutal but also throws in some more melodic moments (recalling Taken in their execution of the comforting and the metallic) and some electronic experimentation. Of course, a few of their more accessible parts tread dangerously close to Incubus territory and they haven’t made their blending of influences completely their own, but The Coldest Winter is an excellent offering.