Feed the Rhino are the British Cancer Bats. That band's southern-tinged hardcore is a bit more sludgy than the metallic erraticism of Every Time I Die. That's still here in spades on The Sorrow and the Sound — it's just tempered with a heavy dose of melodicism, as is the trend in Britcore lately (Bring Me the Horizon, Architects). Feed the Rhino don't have as good a grasp of catchy dynamics as their superiors, but they don't really need to, as polish would gloss over their gritty sound.
The album is a slow starter, with the new noise of opener "New Wave" revealing their Refused ambitions. It's not until "Finish the Game" that the group successfully shape the album's sound, but it's got more frequent hits than misses after that, with "Set Sail for Treason," "Deny and Offend" and "Bright Side of a Dark Ride" effectively muddying the hooks to great effect.
The group walk a tumultuous path, as fans of southern hardcore prefer their raucous music whiskey-soaked and filthy, while those caught on the hooks might desire more sheen. However, there is promise shown here; the groovy "Keep Your Purpose Hitman" could very well be self-directed, as they really should continue down this path. They ain't there yet, but eventually Feed the Rhino could be the shape of southern hardcore to come.
(Siege of Amida)The album is a slow starter, with the new noise of opener "New Wave" revealing their Refused ambitions. It's not until "Finish the Game" that the group successfully shape the album's sound, but it's got more frequent hits than misses after that, with "Set Sail for Treason," "Deny and Offend" and "Bright Side of a Dark Ride" effectively muddying the hooks to great effect.
The group walk a tumultuous path, as fans of southern hardcore prefer their raucous music whiskey-soaked and filthy, while those caught on the hooks might desire more sheen. However, there is promise shown here; the groovy "Keep Your Purpose Hitman" could very well be self-directed, as they really should continue down this path. They ain't there yet, but eventually Feed the Rhino could be the shape of southern hardcore to come.
