Every Time I Die

Every Time I Die know one thing about hardcore — as simple as they are, breakdowns rule. This Buffalo, NY wrecking crew have taken that simple truth and run with it on Gutter Phenomenon, as the record’s 34 minutes fly by like one continuous, unfathomably heavy breakdown followed by yet another, equally brutal breakdown. Only now, the breakdowns have singing. Sure to piss off legions of hardcore kids who think anything with melody is totally lame, the vocals demonstrated on this record take the unique style of the band’s past work and run with it, adding an additional sonic layer to an already crowded sound. Taking some stylistic cues from the Dillinger Escape Plan’s recent foray into the world of well-structured songs — complete with purely melodic interludes — the whole record benefits from greater dynamic interplay between the disparate sonic elements that now compose ETID’s sound. That is not to say that anything on Gutter Phenomenon comes anywhere near accessible, but merely that the band seem far less concerned with being a "hardcore band,” whatever current scene politics dictate that term to mean. And then there are the breakdowns. They’re so good that even the shyest hardcore kids will find themselves displaying their sweet ninja mosh moves the next time ETID roll into town.