Maximum Metal Rating Legend

Diecast - Tearing Down Your Blue Skies - 2004 - Century Media

Track Listing1. Fire Damage 2. Seize The Day 3. Torn From Within 4. Savior 5. Rise And Oppose 6. Sacrifice 7. Medieval 8. Traitor 9. These Days 10. Pendulum 11. Rebirth

Wow, this is a real hit and miss album for me. I really dug Diecast’s debut album “Day of Reckoning” when it came out in 2001. It had an interesting mix of Pantera like grooves, huge moshy metalcore breakdowns, and real catchy sung-out vocal hooks. Overall it was a damn good album. I remember hearing the phrase “sellouts” a bunch of times in reference to those singy parts on that album, which I think is funny since everyone and their grandmother’s metalcore band do this style of vocals now. So four years later, Diecast comes out with their new album "Tearing Down Your Blue Skies", with a new label and some line up changes.

While still keeping with their original sound, they are definitely heading towards a more commercial style at times (think Killswitch Engage). The production is really well done with an absolutely massive guitar tone and overall the pacing throughout the entire album. Songs like “Torn From Within” and “Rise and Oppose” are complete ass kickers. Even though it’s not that original, it’s a good album. But there is one thing on this album that really annoys me: the vocals.

While new vocalist Paul Stoddard gives a solid performance with his screamed/growled hardcore vocals, it’s his singing clean vocals that can really get on my nerves at time. There are some times when he sings (when it’s not overdubbed or treated with studio effects) that sound nasal-y, whiny, out of key and these parts sound completely out of place from the rest of the song. The ending of “Fire Damage” or the beginning of “Seize the Day” are the best examples of this. I don’t know if they are trying to catch the eye of the emo crowd with these vocals, but it’s absolutely atrocious sounding and makes me want to run to the CD player to skip to the next song immediately.

Other than this one flaw, "Tearing Down Your Blue Skies" is a cool album, the riffs are solid, and there are some decent hooks, but when you compare it to their previous album, it falls short of any expectations. But for the most part, fans of Killswitch Engage, Atreyu or general fans of this genre should dig this album a lot.


Score: 6/10


--Pandemonium_55 04.03.05