Eyes Set to Kill - Reach
Rating
RIYL
ParamoreThe Bled
Emery
Alexisonfire
Tracklist
1. Intro2. Sketch In Black & White
3. Reach
4. Darling
5. Violent Kiss
6. Young Blood Spills Tonight
7. Where We Started
8. Into The Night
9. Give You My All
10. Liar In The Glass
11. Only Holding On
12. Behind These Eyes
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What if Paramore’s Hayley Williams screamed and had less cute hair? Well, she could probably try out for Eyes Set to Kill, the Tempe, AZ five-piece whose debut full-length Reach is out now on Break Silence Records.
Now if you'll please excuse my while I sip a little Hater-ade...
Of the bubbling pool of female-fronted rock bands (In This Moment, Kenotia, Patience, etc.), Eyes Set to Kill is certainly one of the better ones. But looking at this band it’s hard not to think they were created via some nefarious conspiracy involving Hot Topic, Fuse, and their label Koch Records (parent company to Break Silence). Led by sisters Alexia and Anissa Rodriguez, Eyes Set to Kill play a watered-down version of the metalcore / screamo those myspace kids get so moist over – I’m thinking The Devil Wears Prada, Memphis May Fire, and the like. From the perfectly placed facial piercings to the combed over hair, pouty lips, and token metal dude with full sleeves and huge plugs, Eyes Set to Kill look more like a marketing department’s master creation than a legitimate band worthy of respect, praise, and a recording contract. Maybe the record industry is folding because they keep signing bands not worth the price of admission.
Maybe?
Man this Hater-ade is tasty.
Alexia and keyboardist Brandon Anderson trade vocals in a boring call-and-response format. It seems like the two sat down with Alexia’s lyric book and decided, “OK, you sing that line, I’ll scream this line, then you sing that line, then I’ll scream this line, then I’ll sing that line…” I think you get it. Drummer Caleb Clifton would do well to lay off his double bass pedal. The kid plays like a chef who only keeps salt and pepper on his spice rack – about as flavorful as tapioca pudding. And as for the guitars, they’re typical Killswitch Engage style metalcore, nothing interesting in the slightest.
“Reach” is a predictable title track, with empowering lyrics and a doodling guitar melody you can’t get out of your head, “Violent Kiss” is at the tempo and shuffle that those two-step kids love to get down to, and “Give You my All” is your token acoustic track. Overall there is little variation in this twelve song album, little to get excited about – little substance at all.
It’s a shame, really, that "female-fronted" is getting to the point where it sounds like such a gimmick when used as a qualifier. It’s like that band Loom – am I supposed to ignore the fact that their post-ATDI indiecore is rather generic simply because they incorporate a violin in their music? Likewise, am I to ignore the fact that Eyes Set to Kill is rather generic screamo simply because they feature two rather attractive females?
But then again you know me – steady sippin' on some Hater-ade. Take it as you will.
--James Taylor
Comments
Leeds, England
In This Moment are quality. One of the few metalcore bands I like.
Fishers, Indiana
Tapioca pudding is delicious.
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canada
Markham, ON
Nice.
P.S. This is what the alphabet would look like if you removed Q and R.
Beer Blog
can i say something though - what the fuck is wrong with judging a band based on how they look?????? just thought i'd open that bag of worms and see where it took us.
i see nothing wrong with judging a band based on how they look - i don't go talk to the ugly girls at the bar 'cause i think they might have other redeeming qualities.
Markham, ON
I know where you're coming from though, because I just bought an issue of AP, and flipping through the first few pages, seeing all the promo shots of bands, I didn't need to hear their music; I already know what they sound like. In that respect, bands are grooming (and being groomed) to fit a niche, so their image identifies what they sound like. It's the "scene aesthetic", and makes the music industry feel like a big, capitalist high school.
P.S. This is what the alphabet would look like if you removed Q and R.
Being a musician myself, playing drums, bass, and guitar, can relate to some of the stuff you're talking about.
I do understand what you're saying about Caleb's overdoing it with the double bass. He seems to include it in almost every drum fill. Otherwise, I like the rest of the drumming, not trying to do too many things, and his drumming is for the most part very simple stuff.
The guitar work maybe be criticized because it is your "generic" screamo/metalcore riffs, but do you really expect bands to write songs with crazy, super-technical guitar work nowadays? Also, in the scene which this music is aimed for, which is the screamo scene, most guitar work is not very hard. You must look at the guitar parts as just another piece to the puzzle. Eyes Set To Kill is just trying to send a message through their music as a whole. Not to say that we can't criticize the guitar parts seperately, but you have to look at the big picture, which is the message the song is delivering.
Anderson's screaming, to me, is by far the worst part of their music. I feel that this band would be better off with a new screamer. His screaming style just pierces through the otherwise good, solid music, and his voice gets very annoying after a while.
The part of the band that I think is forgotten by most people is the bass. Anissa Rodriguez plays some great bass lines throughout the album, but due to the way the album was mixed, her bass lines aren't heard very well.
Overall, I actually dig the album, despite it's stereotypical "metalcore/screamo" style that you refer to it as. This band takes pride in their songwriting and lyrical style that aims the music towards the mainstream screamo scene.
I can see where you're coming from with harsh criticism, as I can also get pretty crazy with reviews, but like I said, get your facts correct before you post anything, or else it will make you look stupid. I study the music industry very carefully, and I tend to be quite the music nerd at times, and I can assure you that some of the stuff said in your review was wrong. Otherwise, I like the review, although I might now agree with it.
I've done enough blabbing for now, take it easy!
Minnesota
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