Rough Edge: Damnation AD Reviews

DAMNATION A.D.

"In This Life or the Next" (Victory; 2007)

I knew of Damnation A.D. but, to the best of my knowledge, I've never heard any of the band's music. So I can't compare this new release to the band's earlier stuff (I understand they formed in 1992 and their debut album was released in 1995). I can tell you this: "In This Life or the Next" is the band's first CD in over eight years but you'd never know it from listening. If what they say about Damnation A.D. is true -- that they were pioneers of the metalcore genre -- well, they still play it today as well as any of those who were influenced by them.

"In This Life or the Next" is eleven tracks of grinding guitars, pounding rhythms and vocals that must lead to a honey and lemon vocal chord bath after each song. It's metalcore that sounds like a lot of the other metalcore out there but, because these guys have been at it for so long, there is a certain style here that makes this CD just a little bit fresher than others.

What this all boils down to, of course, is whether or not you like metalcore. If you don't, nothing on this CD will even remotely entertain you (with perhaps the exception of "If You Could Remember," which sounds a bit like Type O Negative). If you're a fan of metalcore, however, there's no question that Damnation A.D.'s latest will be appealing to you.

Damnation A.D.: Alex Merchlinsky - bass; Mike DC - vocals; K.O. - guitars; Colin Kercz - drums. Supplying guest vocals are Wes Eisold of Give Up the Ghost, John Henry of Darkest Hour, Carl Buechner of Freya and Earth Crisis and Pete Wentz and Patrick Stump of Fall Out Boy.

For more information, check out http://ww.damnationad.com.

Rating Guide:

A classic. This record will kick your ass.

Killer. Not a classic but it will rock your world.

So-so. You've heard better.

Pretty bad. Might make a nice coaster.

Self explanatory. Just the sight of the cover makes you wanna hurl.

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