CoC : From Autumn to Ashes - Too Bad You're Beautiful : Review

From Autumn to Ashes - _Too Bad You're Beautiful_
(Ferret, 2005)
by: Xander Hoose (8 out of 10)

I'm easily drawn to hardcore, metalcore and emocore. A good song will have me instantly hooked and wanting more. But usually, right after the high comes a low. The low for me means bands that can only play at one speed, in one style. Suddenly listening to a 40-minute album can become a bore -- or worse, an annoyance. That's why I'm happy to stumble upon bands who know when to take back gas; when to change rhythm, when to turn the music upside down. Talk The Dillinger Escape Plan, Botch, Drowningman, and I'm listening! From Autumn to Ashes has the same thing going on _Too Bad You're Beautiful_. When these guys play hard and fast, they sure as fuck are hard and fast. But there's more to their songs: there are both instrumental and near-acoustic intermezzos; there are clean vocals, there is tension-building; and then there is hyperfast and brutal riffing and shredding again! _Too Bad You're Beautiful_ could have been a near-perfect album, if it weren't for one thing: the clean vocals. I don't have anything against the vocalist's hardcore screams, but the emo vocals actually hurt the songs. It would have been much better if From Autumn to Ashes had hired a second singer to complement the band. For now I am doing my best to ignore the off-key parts and focus on the rest, and that is enough to make me give this band a solid 8 out of 10.

Contact: http://www.fromautumntoashes.com

(article published 31/5/2005)