Search - Nights Like These :: The Faithless

Too Raw For Victory

D. Miller | Grand Rapids, MI | 09/26/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"While Victory Records has become renowned trash peddlers for the most part, they still have managed to surprise me with a very select few hardcore bands on their roster, and joining the fray is Nights Like These.

income alone. I then found my head banging along to fierce melodies and militant tempos that just classically perform all the right things, just perfectly impressing me every brutal step of the way. I ignored my hate for victory and just delved deep into this abrasive masterpiece. I can't complain about music that just hits me thei right way. And in terms of hardcore music, Nights like These does just that. They go directly for the gut and spare no emotions. and thats why I caught onto them so rabidly.



Most of the songs on this disc are from their original albums before signing to Victory. I've managed to acquire some songs form those, and you can understand why they redid them. They were utterly raw, just bad production.



Only logical complaint I can think of is why Victory?



Just a horrible label, dirty MTV laced label



otherwise a wildly confounding album that will probably be overlooked"

Brutality - - the real greatness will come down the line.

Greg Grady | dallas | 07/11/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Nights like these hail from Memphis Tenn. Where alot of heavy acts seem to be making their name these days.



Its difficult for Nights like these to not fall under a category of everything that has been done before, but they do. Thats not necessarily a bad thing. Very few bands open the way to a new genre, its hard to create something unique and creative enough to the point where its not destructive.



Although Nights like These sounds like bands such as the Acacia Strain, Red Chord, etc. They mix in their own elements which make each listen worth it. At time it can be frustrating for the listener who engages into the melody (if thats what you will call it) and then sporadically taken out of the flow. At times this works amazingly as it transcends you into an entirely new musical aspect but other times your left on the end...waiting...empty.



The cd delivers pure artistic emotion. One thing i enjoy about this cd is it doesn't seem like anything is forced, even if that works against them in some cases it always gives a common level of respect. For people who truly enjoy this genre and heaviness of music will appreciate the journey this cd takes you through. A variety of ups and downs but it can get draining, to the point where you've just had too much heaviness. But to me...thats a good thing.



The vocals are great, bellows and heavy growling type sputs. No screeches or high pitched yelps here. I find that as a plus.

The breakdowns are always enjoyable, sometimes throughout the song you will find some span of blankness...almost as if your searching for that moment that defines the song, alot of the breakdowns make each song worth it but in some cases leaves you disappointed that they could have been ended with so much more explosion. This may have to do with the lengths of the song, the cd runs a little over 25 mins which may not be enough for the average listener. The scary thing is these guys are all around 18-19 years old signing a 4 year contract with victory.



Some good things about this, we should expect them to mature and gradually progress when it comes to song construction and finally a band that cleans up the poppy trend that was starting to consume the largest independent label known as Victory.



Overall i give this cd a 3.5

There are listens on this cd that you will play over and over, but there are some tracks you will just skip because it either leaves you unsatisfied or it sounds to replicated by other sounds in the industry. The talent here is tremendous and alot is ahead for this group. If your searching for a new true heavy sludge doom sound, give this a try, its worth it."