The Best of Taste of Chaos, Various Artists
Blimey, they're bleeding this Taste of Chaos thing a bit aren't they?! Worldwide tours, CDs...there will be action figures and duvet covers next! A self-proclaimed "the most definitive post-hardcore collection ever to be assebled', this compilation loses a full star simply for being so up its own arse it can probably eat its intestines for lunch. Or something. True, all the heavyweights of the 'scene' are here. So when I say Thursday, The Used, Underoath, Thrice, Funeral For A Friend, Avenged Sevenfold, Deftones and Rise Against you can tell that this doesn't duck out in the quality stakes. The problem this CD has is in lasting two CDs it's filled with at least one disc of absolute drivel.
Don't get me wrong, I'm partial to a bit of this kind of music when it's done well (see most of those bands listed above), but when it's derivative, contrived, generic and shit, well, it makes me want to shoot myself. I am sick to the back teeth of little dyed-haired teens and their floppy, badly cut hair, and if bands like Bleed The Dream, My American Heart and Dir En Grey continue to peddle their pap for much longer I may take it upon myself to rid the world of such shit forever. Of course this CD's quality outweighs some of the garbage that sits here, with Story of the Year and Thrice showcasing newer material, while Armor For Sleep and From First To Last are also first CD standouts.
CD2 is slightly heavier, with Deftones, Killswitch Engage and Every Time I Die among the heavyweights that shine like a beacon amongst a fog of doom that carries a foul stench of stale faux-hardcore bands. The Bled and Norma Jean don't quite live up to standards, but remain listenable, while Dillinger Escape Plan do their thing as well as ever with 'Unretrofied'. I guess as long as there are tours like Taste of Chaos this ridiculous musical/fashion/style 'scene' is going to continue. And while I'd much rather kids listen to dross like Emery than The Pussycat Dolls, I'd much rather see some of these bands look to form their own sound rather than borrow someone else's. There are some bands here that will be talked about in five years as pioneers of a movement - there are bands here that really shouldn't be spoken about in five minutes time. Still, if you went to the tour or like this music, then this record is a worthy addition - but don't expect the detractors to be won over just yet...
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Paul
