Genre: Metalcore
Label: Solid State
Date of Release: March 12, 2013
POTENT MELODIC METALCORE
In
today’s era, metalcore is not a very easy genre to breathe a lot of life back
into with fresh ideas or innovation. However, even so, there is a healthy
surplus of great bands that do either one of two things: Either bringing some
new, profound element to the genre, or showcase the genre in a very enjoyable
and engaging manner. Quintet Fit For A King is a band that fits rather snugly
within the second category. After forming in 2007 from Tyler, Texas, the
moderate fame they hold today gradually increased over the years, starting with
their two debut EPs, one of them being self-titled, released in 2008, and the
other being “Awaken the Vesper,” which was released in 2009. Later on, they
released their debut full-length in 2011 simply called “Descendants,” where the
band managed to reel in guest vocals from Jeremy Gray (Ivoryline) and Matty
Mullins (Memphis May Fire). This landed the band a deal with Christian metal and
hardcore label Solid State Records, which also has been known for bearing acts
such as Oh, Sleeper, MyChildren MyBride, and Becoming The Archetype under its
belt. Subsequently, 2013 would see the release of the band’s second full-length
entitled “Creation/Destruction.” Offering 11 tracks in its wake, this album determines
whether the band’s underlying potential has reached its peak or was all for
naught.
When
it comes to the musicianship, “Creation/Destruction” does not offer anything
particularly new or that notable in that department. However, it can easily be
said that each element in this regard is played out well, nonetheless. The aggressive
vocals, composed of mid-pitch screams and low growls, while tending to sound a
tad forced at times, are performed nicely nonetheless, demonstrating a good
teeming of energy and potency for the music. The clean vocals, unlike before,
are more prominent in this record than in the preceding releases, and they are
also done well, with a rather transcendent tone to them. The guitars, while
nothing special, are credited for delivering some punchy riffs here and there,
outside of the usual metalcore-esque chugs. The same can pretty much be stated
for the drum work, since, although they don’t necessarily stand out of the
usual crowd of hardcore drumming, the way they are produced makes them sound
very bold and powerful with every hit they land. Speaking of which, the
production, done by Andreas Magnusson, is one of the larger highlights of this
record; they give the music a somewhat atmospheric tone, and they make the
vocals and instrumentations sound like powerful forces on their own integrating
well together. Overall, although the musicianship is nothing that fresh, it is executed
well.
As
well as the musicianship, the music itself demonstrates an example of a record
that doesn’t necessarily bring anything particularly new to the table, but plays
along its genre very well. In this case, Fit For A King lurks within melodic
metalcore territory. The band performs this genre in a rather fierce manner,
balancing on the thin line between melodic hardcore passages and chug-ridden
metalcore with even a little deathcore lining to it. The formula overall is simple,
and has been used plenty of times before by other acts. However, this is not
going without saying that it isn’t performed well. The music demonstrates some
great flow and potency, complete with the stellar sound production and mixing. All
of the elements of the musicianship described earlier polymerize together to
create a nice and energetic blend of melody and brutality. Despite the generic
factor of this record, it does have some moments that gain a tight grip on the
listeners, giving the album some way of at least standing out a little. Some of
the breakdowns are actually quite powerful in their attack, with the one
immediately exploding in the beginning of “Warpath” especially demonstrating this
aspect, and some of the melodies certainly know how to send chills down the
listener’s spine. There is also some good buildup throughout each track, in
spite of some of the songs following the typical verse-chorus structure, and
there is a certain momentum to them that does a decent job of keeping the
audience engaged. All in all, while “Creation/Destruction” does not conjure
up anything particularly remarkable or outstanding, it does serve as a great
demonstration of its realm of melodic and ferocious metalcore.
Lyrically,
the same can be claimed as both the musicianship and the melodic metalcore
itself: They are not anything incredibly remarkable, but are well done
nonetheless. As Christian-based lyrics, they focus on topics such as
self-empowerment and internal conflicts. While they are nothing provocative,
powerfully moving, or absolutely intriguing to read, the way they are projected
by the vocals in this album is excellent. The vocals invoke these lyrics in
such a passionate manner that they truly stick out to the record’s audience.
They do a wonderful job of bringing the lyrics and their meanings to life, and,
although the lyrics themselves aren’t completely noteworthy, they are an even
more powerful force when heard in the music. As a whole, the strength of these
lyrics are not just in the messages that they bring themselves, but also in the
way they are screamed and sung.
“Creation/Destruction” has proven to be a nice dose of metalcore, as well as a great
follow-up to Fit For A King’s preceding releases. The musicianship and the
production are both great forces that fare well within this album, the lyrics
are projected incredibly well, and the music itself demonstrates great energy
and ferocity. It also showcases a great balance between melody and brutality
within the metalcore realm, and the end result is a well-rounded album that
teems with nice vigor and a fair share of punchy moments. The only real issue
with this record, as stated earlier, is that it is undeniably generic; it doesn’t
unveil much creativity or inventiveness, and anyone in search of some
innovative tunes probably will not find much to praise here. However, as a
metalcore record, it is done quite nicely, and turned out to be a generally
enjoyable release. As well as old fans, any followers or newcomers of the
melodic metalcore and hardcore genre certainly should try this album out for
size, and there is a very good chance they will discover something to truly
take pleasure in listening to. Having its memorable parts and quirks here and
there, “Creation/Destruction” is a solid step forward for this rising
quartet.
Score: 7/10 (Solid)
