For those of you who are unaware, Of Mice and Men is a post-hardcore band from Costa Mesa, California. The band was formed in 2009 by Austin Carlile (former singer of Attack Attack) and Jaxin Hall, a bassist from New Zealand. I heard about this project some time last year and was very eager to get my hands on their debut self titled album on Rise Records. I’m a big fan of Austin and I think his vocal style is incredible. He has a tone to his throaty calls that will make you want to kick you cat through a window and punch your grandma in the mouth. Their music is incredibly infectious and that shows with their numbers. Within two months, their cover of Lady Gaga’s song Poker Face had a million hits on MySpace. It easy to tell I wasn’t the only one eager to hear their new record, and now that I finally got my hands on it, let me tell you it was worth the wait.

This album comes out of the gates like an out-of-control locomotive. From the first note, you can tell these boys know their way around this genre. They breaking down walls and leaving nothing in their path. From the minute I hit the play button, I knew I was in for a fantastic ride. Their sound is defiant and strong, and their message is clear. Song by song is one brutal, melodic assault on your eardrums after another.

Their opener “YDG” sets the bar for the rest of the album. Austin’s feral cries, the heavy guitar walks and the big chorus all combined will launch you into a hardcore auditory state of ecstasy. I mean it literally makes you want to slam dance where you stand. Just hope you’re not in the middle of a daycare when you turn this song on, that’s all I’m saying.

Track 3, “Second and Sebring,” is a brilliant song. The lyrics are uplifting and motivational, and the breakdown is treacherous and tantalizing. In the last twenty seconds, Austin will lull you into a sense of momentary peace when they slow it down and give him the floor, so stick around till the end – it’s worth it. Great song!

Track eight, “The Ballad of Tommy Clayton and the Rawdog Millionaire,” is a really cool song. The opening guitar riff is really catchy, the drum fills give it a real upbeat tone, and the chorus just lifts you into the atmosphere. That is, until the breakdown yanks you back down to earth and pummels you into the ground.

Lastly, their closer “This One’s for You” is melodic pandemonium at its best. There is a toss around, non-conforming rhythm to this song that I thought was very cool. They just get you pumped with every song and make you feel dirty and used up, in a good way.

Of Mice and Men were able to contrive a beautifully indiscriminate sound that will take you to a very happy place at a very fast rate. This brilliantly brutal bedlam of an album has rocketed itself very quickly to the top of my playlist, and I have a very strong feeling that many will agree. Bands like Of Mice and Men define this very genre, standing hand in hand with other great contenders like Underoath and Oh Sleeper. These guys have a sound that will catapult them to success with little resistance. Fans of Underoath, We Came As Romans, Oh Sleeper and bands of the like will find this album to be first in line as the next biggest album in their collection. I can’t say enough good things about this album. Just buy it!

5.0/5