More Than A Thousand – Vol. 4 Make Friends and Enemies
Portugal has brought the world many things, both good and not so good. Luncheiras stemmed the wonderfully delicious goodness known to the rest of the world as Hot Pockets. Yet, they also brought us those absolutely ridiculous shopping carts that required a quarter to unlock…yeah, remember those? But after the horrible idea of the paid shopping cart, Portugal have redeemed themselves by bringing us the awe-inspiring five piece (albeit via London) known as More Than A Thousand. Having a demo, three EPs and one full length under their belt, More Than A Thousand hooked up with producer Paul Leavitt (Gwen Stacy, All Time Low, I Am Ghost) and recorded their extraordinary new album Vol. 4 Make Friends and Enemies.
The first song/video for the album comes in the form of “It’s Alive (How To Make A Monster)”. Hammering guitars beat you senseless, while drummer Pedro Pais’ double bass foot work is absolutely fantastic. After the mind numbing verses, More Than A Thousand throw in a huge catchy chorus that will stick with you for days. The band’s eclectic sound can be described as a combination of Unearth, Nothingface, Rise Against and a pinch of Eighteen Visions. Vocally, Vasco Ramos voice has an incredible range that can smack you around then make you buy dinner. He seems to encompass guys like Trevor Phipps (Unearth), Matt Holt (Nothingface) and Corey Taylor (Slipknot) into his extremely varied style.
“No Bad Blood”, “First Bite” and “Nothing But Mistakes” all show the extreme diversity, yet cohesiveness of the band. “No Bad Blood” begins with Ramos opening with a very Rise Against style chant, “This is who we are. Tonight we’ll stay together”, followed by the band kicking into some sick double bass and raging melodic riffs. Filipe Oliveira and Sergio Sousa’s blistering guitar work in “First Bite” forms the beast that this song truly is. Once again, Ramos’ voice is spot on with his insatiable heavy/melodic vocals that tie in another incredibly catchy chorus. “Nothing But Mistakes” sees the band go in an all melody driven, radio friendly direction. The melodic, yet meaty six strings are mixed with pulsating drums and Ricardo Sousa’s thick booming bass lines.
If you feel like having your head ripped off, then you’ll want to spin tracks like “I Will Always Let You Down” and “Black Hearts.” Rampaging metalcore style riffs are meshed with bleeding throat vocals and rapid fire drumming. Once again, the floodgates open to memorable choruses and infectious breakdowns. Without a doubt, “Black Hearts” is by far my favorite song on Vol. 4. The track begins with massive walls of hell-fueled guitars, surging drums and nerve damaging vocals, only to end with beautiful melodic segments mixed with strings. It’s an absolutely fantastic track that should have listeners searching for their repeat button.
The album ends with “Roadsick” and “A Sharp Tongue Can Cut Your Own Throat.” “Roadsick” is a radio devouring, hit maker in the waiting. Ramos’ Jared Leto (30 Seconds To Mars) style vocals flow perfectly over the screaming axes that bounce back and forth. The choruses are memorable, airy and dynamic revealing the band’s many musical layers. “A Sharp Tongue Can Cut Your Own Throat” brings the album back to its brimstone roots. Pais’ punchy drum work lays a great foundation for metallic riffs and heavy vocals loaded with melodic overtones. Side note: Let the track continue to run and you will find another hidden gem there for you to devour.
There isn’t anything negative that I can really say about this record. More Than A Thousand have been able to mix and match styles, and actually make them work to create an infectious, well rounded album. From the first track to the last, you will find yourself headbanging while singing along with every word. If you only buy one album all year long, make sure that it’s this one. Vol. 4 Make Friends and Enemies is an absolute MUST OWN.
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18 Comments
May 22nd, 2010 at 4:47 pm
This album IS infectious…to say the very least. Love it!
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May 24th, 2010 at 9:55 pm
I just started listening to this and it's awesome so far. KILLER grooves and infectious as all hell. THANKS, PORTUGAL! Send some more of your rock our way.
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May 24th, 2010 at 9:59 pm
PS — I'm still laughing at the paid shopping cart part, ahahaha.
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May 24th, 2010 at 11:32 pm
Yeah, I heard their single, "It's Alive (How I Made a Monster)" and I was floored. Sure, they aren't doing much outside of the metal realm, however they are incredibly solid with what they do. The lead singer has pipes and these guys make above average music in their genre. Love it.
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May 27th, 2010 at 10:08 pm
I am totally in love with "No Bad Blood" and "First Bite" right now.
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May 27th, 2010 at 10:29 pm
I love this entire album. I've been listening to it non-stop all week.
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May 29th, 2010 at 9:16 pm
Sounds so much like Cancer Bats.. This album is not bad, nice rifiing, I enjoyed it but the clean vox ruined it for me too many times.
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June 7th, 2010 at 6:03 pm
"Vasco Ramos voice has an incredible range that can smack you around then make you buy dinner." HA! brilliant. awesome review. gonna check them out more fo sho
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June 7th, 2010 at 6:21 pm
@tpislegend-
We're streaming the album for a limited time, so you can check it out here: http://thenewreview.net/all-access/album-stream-more-than-a-thousand-vol-4-make-friends-and-enemies
And I'll say it again – great album!
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June 8th, 2010 at 4:50 am
I was finally able to get this off Zune after, what, three weeks?
SUPER STOKED, BRO!
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June 17th, 2010 at 5:50 pm
i'm having trouble getting into this. its good, im just not attached to it yet after several times through. theres kind of an MTV metal feeling to it that i don't like, kind of makes me think of bury your dead. at the same time, im also reminded of a day to remember's album homesick. eventually ill probably agree with the 5.
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August 6th, 2010 at 11:28 pm
"Nothing But Mistakes" is bloody amazing.
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August 30th, 2010 at 6:57 am
My daughter was listening to this album in a music store: She was screaming with the headphones on: “daddy come listen to this, it's really cool”. I like extreme music (as so does she) but I had not idea who this band was.
I offered the album this month in her 9th birthday. We've been listening to this in the last weeks and I can tell you: it's bloody great!
I hope MTT1000 get the international recognition (and payback) they deserve.
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September 20th, 2010 at 10:34 am
Seeing them live tonight as a matter of fact! Looking forward to it
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October 18th, 2010 at 11:03 pm
The chorus of It's Alive, might be one of the catchiest I've ever heard
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November 9th, 2010 at 3:55 am
I actully saw this band live in Sweden in Oktober was kinda sick in a house , straight edge promoted gig. it was sick we was only about 30 people there …. hahaha , i agree completly with the review one of my favourite releases so far this year.
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January 31st, 2011 at 12:12 pm
This is easily one of the best CDs of 2010. I've been listening to it for the better part of a year, but it still has not grown old for me. Great review, and even better CD.
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April 29th, 2011 at 4:44 pm
Great review and top album! Have been listening to these guys for years and years, and they always seem to surprise me with every release. All different but all styled uniquely MTAT.
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