Following up to the bands 2003 debut smash hit album “Hot Damn!” Every Time I Die return with “Gutter Phenomenon” – named from the 1950’s disapproving approach to sinful rock n roll music and the discredit it had brought to American society wouldn’t last, something ETID appreciate the reality of, despite 50 years on, music being as powerful now as ever. In preparation for this new album, ETID have stepped back from their immediate barrage of hardcore metal assault, and are taking in the listening pleasure of many classic rock artists, (Moorhead, Black Crows, and Thin Lizzy) to create a more versatile album with more angles and sounds than the band probably considered they were ever capable of.
Cameo appearances from Glassjaw‘s Daryl Palumbo with an incredible four part vocal harmony in track 7 “Champing At The Bit”, and also My Chemical Romance‘s Gerard Way in the albums second track “Kill The Music” make this a much more thought out and open record from ETID as opposed to their last closed fist assault. Don’t get me wrong, the band certainly hasn’t gone soppy, and they are still going to be causing the mayhem they have done in the past. The raw force and dirty guitars are still present and drill away at you, but I personally think the band have just progressed as writers and as people and have decided to take a more versatile and mature approach to the tracks off “Gutter Phenomenon” than riff after riff after riff.
I wouldn’t imagine that “Gutter Phenomenon” will be branded a massive album to remember in rock history, but it will certainly put Every Time I Die on the map, and indent their place further than the mark “Hot Damn!” left.
Pete @ Punktastic
www.roadrunnerrecords.co.uk