With Ears To See And Eyes To Hear

We suppose it was only a matter of time before screamo completely crossed over into mainstream pop territory. First it was Auto-Tune poking its wretched prods into the so-called underground; then it was the overabundance of cheap studio trickery. Now, some might consider this screamo judgment day, while select others could be celebrating the long-fought victory of screamo meets tween-pop.



In the case of Florida's Sleeping With Sirens, we're wholeheartedly in the former camp, because this album is just wretched. With Ears To See And Eyes To Hear is a nonstop assault of mainstream influences into an emo/metalcore sound that, ultimately, sounds best dirty and raw–not this trite, juvenile, wimpy ear-candy.



The depressing part about this is the band members themselves are more than adept; good players with strong licks, and a snare-tight rhythm section. But it's ruined by a glossy sheen that won't come off, even with a scalding shower and a piece of steel wool. Singer Kellin Quinn's incessant whining–like Rush's Geddy Lee meets Justin Bieber–overpowers anything else. This guy either needs to get his balls out of the vice, or go ahead and grow an entirely new pair. And the ultra-puffy ballad, "Let Love Bleed Red," has to be a joke, right?

Rise http://www.riserecords.com/