In the world of music, post-hardcore is one of those genres that most people tend to ignore because of its heavy breakdowns and, more specifically, the screaming that the genre is known for.

When Of Mice & Men released the first single off “Restoring Force,” it left fans disappointed because it diverted musically from their earlier albums, which featured the same generic breakdowns in almost every verse as well as the noise that associated with the genre. They have toned that down, still keeping some of the screaming in there, and made this album with more of a hard rock sound with the smoother guitar rhythms. It’s something that’s unexpected from any post-hardcore band to do, and it’s definitely a gutsy thing. Yes, on some tracks, there will still be those heavy breakdowns and a lot of screaming, but you need to get out of your own little world and listen to it. It will give you a different way of viewing that typical cookie-cutter “pop music.”

This album is definitely changing the way post-hardcore is viewed in the world. Just by the guitar rhythms, the way that their drummer does more of those double-bass kicks on this album, how more tracks are a bit more melodic, which is almost something these types of bands never do. Just give it a chance, because once you listen to these tracks, you might change your mind, and end up at more shows and be in that infamous mosh pit that people fear.

In the world of music, post-hardcore is one of those genres that most people tend to ignore because of its heavy breakdowns and, more specifically, the screaming that the genre is known for.

When Of Mice & Men released the first single off “Restoring Force,” it left fans disappointed because it diverted musically from their earlier albums, which featured the same generic breakdowns in almost every verse as well as the noise that associated with the genre. They have toned that down, still keeping some of the screaming in there, and made this album with more of a hard rock sound with the smoother guitar rhythms. It’s something that’s unexpected from any post-hardcore band to do, and it’s definitely a gutsy thing. Yes, on some tracks, there will still be those heavy breakdowns and a lot of screaming, but you need to get out of your own little world and listen to it. It will give you a different way of viewing that typical cookie-cutter “pop music.”

This album is definitely changing the way post-hardcore is viewed in the world. Just by the guitar rhythms, the way that their drummer does more of those double-bass kicks on this album, how more tracks are a bit more melodic, which is almost something these types of bands never do. Just give it a chance, because once you listen to these tracks, you might change your mind, and end up at more shows and be in that infamous mosh pit that people fear.

★★★★★

jelkelly@mavs.coloradomesa.edu