Madison are part of the roster of the impressive Fidelity Records, who are beginning to get quite a rep for signing top class acts and releasing quality records from underground, yet ultra melodic and cool, US bands. After Race The Sun ran up and bit me on the bum, their latest release is the new 7-track EP from fellow Americans Madison. Taking a leaf out of Senses Fail‘s book (and that’s before Buddy Nielsen guest appears on this EP), the band kick and scream their way through a septet of relatively impressive, albeit pretty cliched, songs. ‘For The First Time In Years…I’m Leaving You’ is an EP that shows lots of promise, yet doesn’t quite kick down the door and announce its arrival like it possibly should.
It all starts so well too. ‘Missing Since March 11th’ is a mixture of howling screams and melodic choruses, with scything guitars swirling back and forth and a cacophony of drums battering against a heavy bass-line. It is a sound that has been nailed by many bands, but when done well I suppose we can allow a few more groups to pass through the post-hardcore gates before someone decides the genre is full. Buddy Nielsen guests on ‘Gang Fights With Irish Accents’, which is arguably the best song here. Again the band thrash out a memorable chorus and show signs of a very promising future. But it does all go a bit Pete Tong from here, as the acoustic ‘Give Up The Ghost‘ is simply the token stripped down effort, while ‘This Time It’s Mine’ is as generic as they come.
Fans of Senses Fail and Underoath will love Madison – there are similar traits and all three bands share ultra melodic choruses, but for me this mob need to do something a little extra if they’re to make the giant leap needed to the next level. generally I’m bored of this kind of music, but I’ve found this EP to be enjoyable and contain enough hooks to keep me going. This EP could launch the band like Senses Fail‘s first EP (now out of print, by the way) did, so get your hands on a copy now…
www.madisonwebsite.com
Fidelity Records
Paul