Throwdown - Deathless
Rating
RIYL
Five Finger Death PunchGodsmack
Bury Your Dead
Release Date
11/10/2009
Label
Entertainment OneTracklist
1. The Scythe2. This Continuum
3. Tombs
4. The Blinding Light
5. Widowed
6. Headed South
7. Serpent Noose
8. Ouroboros Rising
9. Skeleton Vanguard
10. Pyre & Procession
11. Black Vatican
12. Burial at Sea
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Depending on who you listen to, metalcore is either dead, a bloated corpse floating in the musical ocean, or still very much a viable, relevant genre of music. The critics would point to the over-saturation of the genre with half-assed bands looking for a quick buck, as well as those either mired in a creative morass or hell-bent simply on being heavier than their contemporaries, lending evidence to metalcore’s demise. The other school holds that there is still life left in the metalcore genre, with bands like Century, Converge, and Misery Signals continuing to release boundary-pushing, excellent records. The fact is, both sides are right to an extent, although the sad truth is that there are far more bands contributing to the staid nature of metalcore than there are attempting to create something more substantive.
Throwdown firmly belong in the first camp. Nay, they once belonged firmly to the first camp. They have never been the most original group; even during their humble origins as a glorified side-project they were overly reliant on stock riffs and lyrical themes. There has never been anything original about this band, but at least in their salad days they could deliver some decent run-of-the-mill metalcore. These days, with the release of their latest record, Deathless, Throwdown find themselves almost completely removed from that metalcore sound and swimming in much different musical waters.
On previous outings Vendetta (2005) and Venom & Tears (2007) Throwdown began to abandon their metalcore leanings with a predilection for groove-metal. On Deathless the last vestiges of their early sound have been banished and even their blatant Pantera worship from the last two records is almost non-existent. In their stead: nu metal. It appears as if all of the line-up changes this band has undergone have finally caught up with them. This album sounds passionless, tired, and redundant. It is a plodding, tepid affair. The song structures are unimaginative and the songs drag on for way too long. Dave Peters’ vocals have lost any semblance of bite, trading in the faux-Phil Anselmo for something that could be mistaken for any number of other singers.
Listening to this album feels like a chore. It’s hard to pick the worst offender of the bunch, as every song sounds exactly the same. The issue isn’t that this record is particularly bad from an execution standpoint—everyone plays solidly. There are no glaring missteps. It’s just that this style of music has been done to death. Lead single “This Continuum” is literally a Godsmack song; it would be right at home on the airwaves of any modern rock radio station. Bottom line: Throwdown have continued their de-evolution with this disc. It is the epitome of generic. Avoid Deathless unless you have a penchant for radio-friendly rock.
--Jake Oliver
Comments
Minnesota
These guys are basically aping Godsmack with this album... and that is so, so, so sad.
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Los Angeles
I never really got into this band. They were really big amongst the straight edge kids when I was younger but I could never truly understand what was to like about them.
Leeds, England
I've never listened to this band before, but I'm on track 7 right now and, well, I've liked every track so far haha. I think this is pretty decent : ).
Somewhere in New York
Saw these guys live, listened to their CD's, this band is just awful. They are far too bland.
"If someone gives you a kazoo and toots around the house to MTV, they're not gonna fuck you." - David Cross
San Antonio, Texas
Years back when i got my first taste of Throwdown i enjoyed their music for what it was: tough brutal and in your face. After hearing this album for what it is and not dwelling on who they were, used to be, could/might have been I can honestly say i like this album. Love the melodicism and the tracks are catchy. As i said its not anything like they released before and im sure that pisses some people off but it doesnt bother me. More power to them.
Washington, DC
Haymaker was a fun album and they used to slay live. Now I imagine that they wear cowboy hats and squirt beer through waterguns at their shows.
"Standing still is where we've gone wrong" - The dingees
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http://www.last.fm/user/tunemyheart
Lehigh Valley, PA
Fuck this band. It's a sad statement that a truly decent hardcore band at one time is now being compared to and sounding like Godsmack, Five Finger Death Punch and every other shitty nu-metal crap band. Sellouts...
Spokane, Washington
affliction dudes unite!
current listenings:
Of Virtue - "Heartsounds"
Capsule - "No Ghost"
Century - "Red Giant"
James Vincent McMorrow - "Early In The Morning"
Blind Pilot - "We Are The Tide"
Atascadero, CA
used to dig this band when i first got into hardcore kind of music. now its just not even worth my time to listen all the way through.. kind of a bummer, they did have something good going for awhile.
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Blue Reef Design Studios (Web Development)
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Allentown, PA
Says a lot about a guy who's wearing a Strength for a Reason shirt. Brotherhood.
Lehigh Valley, PA
HAHAHA.Hi Diane!