Metalcore Tailgaters
The phrase metal-core can excite some (usually those under the age of twenty) or create spasms of tension in the sphincters of others who absolutely loathe the genre. As a form of metal it's been around for quite a while and many bands have come and gone. Just when you think the genre can't bloat anymore, South Africa's Barely Breathing offer their version of the said style, capping it off with a dose of 'thrash' (according to the band at least).
I'm not sure about 'thrash' but 'Relive The Regret' is definitely metal-core with a little nu-metal thrown in for good measure. For all it's bandwagon jumping, this release is a respectable offering and causes you to think that metal-core, at it's best, is a decent off shoot of metal. It alls boils down to the basic ideas, guitar licks and creative inspiration, if your basics are good then the songs will be good (it all sounds so simple). Certainly the band's title track is a shot in the metal-core arm just in case you thought the movement was flagging. It's nothing new however, you get the decent riff, lots of shouting and cleanly sung chorus, just as the formula would have it. Barely Breathing rarely break from the tried and tested ingredients of many bands that have come before them, however, I would venture to say their basic riffs are better than most. 'Guns Of War' and 'Marriage Of Heaven And Hell' contain some big guitar sections and avoid the ten riffs a minute and that one-note staccato chugging trap many bands of this ilk fall into. Whereas closer, 'Free Yourself' is perhaps the nearest the band will get to a ballad, instead they opt for the dark anthemic song more akin to the likes of Paradise Lost.
The clean vocal lines are catchy, perhaps not as catchy as such bands as Killswitch Engage, but engaging enough at the start of this disc. As the album progresses the genuinely hooky vocal melodies are diluted with long sustained notes causing them to become annoying because they just sound like someone wailing Ooh and Aah over the top of some metal chords. 'Marriage Of Heaven And Hell' suffers from this as does 'Free yourself' as does the nu-metal rip off that is 'Ignite'.
If you can withstand the shouting, or indeed still follow the metal-core scene quite closely, then Barely Breathing could be a good find for you. They certainly have some good ideas but fail to breathe enough new life into the genre. My only worry is that the music scene will move on leaving such bands as Barely Breathing behind before they've even got going. From the ideas on offer, I think the band could make a decent career out of music as long as they don't get sucked into any dying musical movements. Good luck.