Music: We, The Undersigned: Bleed the Constants

Our Take

There are a lot of metal/hardcore bands out there right now that are going for a very spastic combination of styles. Some of the bigger names include Dillinger Escape Plan and The Number Twelve Looks Like You, but there are also plenty of smaller acts trying their hand at the style. One of the latest is We, The Undersigned who recently put out their debut full length Bleed the Constants. And though there are elements that are reminiscent of some of the other bands out there, these guys stand out thanks to their combination of rock and metal styles that gives this release a unique feeling.

While a lot of the acts in this genre combine elements of hardcore and metal to create very loud and spastic music, We, The Undersigned’s base seems to come more from traditional heavy metal and rock. What this means is that their music isn’t as overwhelmingly heavy and loud as some might expect. However, don’t mistake this to mean that the instrumentalists don’t have plenty to offer, as although they definitely have some mellower more rock oriented moments the tempos and dynamics on Bleed the Constants are constantly changing and listeners will be excited to discover what happens throughout the course of each track. In addition to this, whereas some bands try to be spastic and lose control of their music it seems as though the members of this group are more than capable of handling the complex nature of their material and this makes them even more impressive.

The vocals on Bleed the Constants are all over the place, and there are sure to be styles that listeners enjoy more than others. We, The Undersigned alternate between a variety of screams, growls, and clean vocals throughout the course of the album and most people will notice that the screams and growls definitely steal the show. Whichever members contribute these styles have a ton of energy and are able to stand above the instrumentals and command your attention. Some of the clean vocals are able to maintain this same level of energy, but there are times where they sound a little weak and hurt the flow of each track. This is definitely an area that the group could continue to improve on, but it isn’t bad enough that anyone will want to stop listening.

Clean vocal issues aside, Bleed the Constants is an enjoyable effort from a band that has some similarities to the other experimental metal acts out there but clearly is trying to head off in their own unique direction. We, The Undersigned may not have the mainstream name recognition that many of their peers though but if they continue to create interesting material it seems likely that in a few years that may be able to achieve that.

http://www.diminishedfifthrecords.com/

Chris Dahlberg
October 24, 2009