Haste The Day – Attack Of The Wolf King
I discovered heavy metal in my late elementary years. I had been sheltered for the previous portion of my life and I hopped right into the profanity-laced, God hating scene of European death metal. My religious parents were a bit put off, but surprisingly understanding. They only asked that I find slightly more appropriate bands considering I was in sixth grade. I asked fellow NewReview writer Josh Velliquette if he had any ideas and he immediately showed me Haste the Day’s When Everything Falls album. I was instantly hooked. I fell in love with Jimmy Ryan’s high pitched, screeching vocals and the upbeat, hopeful lyrics. To this day When Everything Falls remains one of my top albums of all time. I can still recite every lyric and remember every melody.
Imagine my horror when after only a few days of enjoying the album, I hear that they have broken up. I was crushed. I had just begun to enjoy them. I had never gotten to see them live or even purchase more of their music. As it turns out, Jimmy Ryan had left to work for Solid State and eventually join Trenches but the band was continuing on without him. I was relieved. Haste the Day would continue to make music! I eagerly awaited their third album, Pressure the Hinges with new vocalist Stephen Keech. As any true fan boy would, I pre-ordered and watched the mail box everyday for this album that would change my life (or so I thought). When the big day finally arrived and I tore open the album and ripped it to my Zune, my mind was filled with thoughts of glorious music. However, the album was garbage. Utter rubbish. I vowed to never buy a Haste the Day album again. But when they began to promote their fourth album, I changed my mind. I heard their single “68” and began to get Haste the Day fever again. And once more, I was disappointed. Although Dreamer was much better than Pressure the Hinges, it was still a far cry from the glory days of Jimmy Ryan.
And now we arrive at Attack of the Wolf King, Haste the Day’s fifth studio album which finds me once again eagerly awaiting this newest musical endeavor. I can’t help but wonder if my heart will be broken once again. There is only so much ache one heart can handle. But, thanks be to God, Haste the Day has finally hit their stride. In the days after Jimmy Ryan’s departure Haste the Day has been changing their sound, trying to find exactly who they are. They finally found it. Attack of the Wolf King sounds like the love child between Haste the Day and August Burns Red. The first thing you will notice is that the guitar melodies are more technical and much more beautiful. They retain the classic Haste the Day feel while showing how the band has progressed as musicians. I can’t count the amount of times I would rewind a song to listen to a particular riff again. The clean vocals remind me more of Pressure the Hinges than Dreamer, but instead of detracting from the music they only add to the momentum of the album. Keech’s vocals, although unlike Jimmy Ryan’s, are much more together and remind me of Dreamer.
Another thing that immediately caught my ear was the much improved drumming. Giuseppe Capolupo (ex Once Nothing) really shows off his talent in a way the previous drummer had been unable. And the guitars of Scotty Whelan and Dave Krysl really bring the listener into the music. The downtuned chugs mix beautifully with the expanded melodies of this new Haste the Day. Every song on this album, although not perfect, is very listenable and enjoyable. Haste the Day has also experimented with different song structures. “White As Snow’s” beginning reminds the listener of some of the old Underoath ballads, and “Dog Like Vultures” begins with a beautiful instrumental intro with pounding guitars over a beautiful melody before transferring to the frantic screams of Keech.
Haste the Day has had a couple of busts since When Everything Falls, but Attack of the Wolf King finds the band once again making beautiful music. The vocals are spot on. The drumming is tight and professional and the guitars have improved vastly from the simple melodies they used to produce and truly showcase the band’s talent. Haste the Day has not been sitting idly by while the music industry passes them by. They have stepped out and declared, “this is who we are and we are here to stay.” If you are a Haste the Day fan pining for the glory days of Jimmy Ryan, then give this album a listen. You will not be disappointed. This album is the end of the metamorphosis that Haste the Day has been undergoing for their last few albums. Haste the Day will satisfy old fans and surprise new fans with this solid outing.
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20 Comments
June 16th, 2010 at 3:45 pm
Can't wait to hear this! Nice review Luke.
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June 16th, 2010 at 4:18 pm
"When Everything Falls" was also one of my first metal discoveries. I love this band, and cannot wait to listen to this one. Especially "Dog Like Vultures". From what I heard in the sample, I'm gonna have that one on repeat for a while.
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June 16th, 2010 at 6:19 pm
this, deep blue and panic broadcast (hope ya review it) are most awaited releases for me.. thanks for the review.
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June 16th, 2010 at 11:22 pm
Thank you Marco and mozil. I hope you guys really enjoy the album, surprisingly I did lol
And Anthony, I adore that song. It was definitely my favorite off the album. We have so much in common!
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josh replied:
June 24th, 2010 at 10:25 pm
yes when everything falls was good, but u say pressure the hinges sucked, your rearded, that was no doubt there best album, there wasnt a song on PTH that sucked, dreamer was the most dissapointing. and burning bridges was a hell of alot better than WEF, and for those who say they suck without jimmy or there not the same – jimmy wasnt that good, anyone could scream like him, stephen made them so much better, ive listen to them from the beggining, and for u to say u thinkk when everything falls was so amzing is pretty funny.
and AOTWK is amazing, walk with a crooked spine
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Anthony Gannaio replied:
July 14th, 2010 at 10:28 pm
Easy man, no need to take personal stabs at the writer if his opinion isn't synonymous with yours.
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Luke Amos replied:
August 11th, 2010 at 10:00 pm
Especially since I gave AOTWK a 4/5. Which is an excellent score. Glad you liked the other albums. I didn't. But I was reviewing AOTWK which I thoroughly enjoyed. So I am not sure what you were trying to say. Thanks for reading though, mate. Keep checking back
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June 16th, 2010 at 11:47 pm
Personally, I loved Haste the Day since Burning Bridges. Even when Jimmy Ryan left (Trenches is awesome though). I like Stephen Keech's screams. I liked his vocals all the way to Dreamer. BUT, from all the previews and stuff I've heard, his vocals absolutely ruin it for me. He has a high, whiny, emo singing voice that I can't stand. I noticed it in all their other albums with him, but he wasn't really singing that much.
With the Chaulk bros in there, it's not really the same band. And I loved the clean singing. They did without sounding too cliche or emo-ish. But I see all those qualities I hated in it now.
Of course, the actual music sounds good. Before he actually start singing it's watch you'd expect from HTD. I'm still going to buy this album because I feel like I might grow into the vocals if I listen to them long enough, but right now, I'm sort of disappointed.
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Kyzee replied:
August 25th, 2010 at 1:13 am
THIS IS SO TRUE IT'S CRAZY /\ … bravo my friend… exactly how I feel bout this and all bands of the same ilk…
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June 17th, 2010 at 1:18 am
I am eager to hear this. Solid review, Lucas. You're getting so good!
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June 17th, 2010 at 1:23 am
"love child of haste the day and august burns red". that builds my excitement without having heard anything yet. besides a couple songs from their first releases in samplers, pressure the hinges was my first album from these guys. i had it in heavy rotation for a long time before i realized that there was really nothing there. dreamer does much better with memorable moments, but the album as a whole never caught on for me, just favorite songs.
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June 17th, 2010 at 4:11 am
@Charlie I felt the same with the vocals. I normally despise those emo vocals. But for some reason they totally grew on me.
@Josh Thanks bro
And did you like the shout out?
@Puffs-T It is pretty fun. It is by far my favorite since When Everything Falls
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Josh Velliquette replied:
June 17th, 2010 at 4:32 am
Of course I dug the shout out. I blushed.
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June 17th, 2010 at 10:14 am
hm, Dreamer and PTH were not so bad… also im very curious about the Black Eyed Peas cover that is included on the deluxe edition of this album
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Puffs-T replied:
June 18th, 2010 at 3:48 pm
Haha, really. which song did they cover?
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mozil replied:
June 18th, 2010 at 4:51 pm
Meet me half way or something like that
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June 19th, 2010 at 3:21 pm
I totally agree with the review. Pressure the Hinges had like two good songs. Dreamer was okay, but very different from the old HTD. But this album's sound, from the songs they're streaming on myspace…will be gold.
Can't wait for 06/29/2010. =)
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June 25th, 2010 at 10:30 am
This is a must buy. I can't wait. I love HTD
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July 14th, 2010 at 7:37 pm
Are u f***ing crazy? dude pressure the hinges and dreamer were way better than when everything falls and burning bridges. jimmy ryan has a one toned scream, stephen keech is a way better vocalist. his screams are deep and brutal. and he can actually change his pitch. not to mention sing which jimmy could never do. he talked the end lyrics in when everything falls, dont get me wrong i like the old albums. but pth and dreamer are way better. they are heavier and much more aggressive. the only bad song on either of those albums is haunting. the rest are the best songs i have ever heard in my life. that's my opinion at least. the first time i heard pressure the hinges i fell in love. i wish attack of the wolf king would have more melodic riffs and more breakdowns like those albums did.
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October 8th, 2010 at 10:52 am
The meet me half way cover is only the BEST! its alot better than the black eyed peas at least
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