Call To Preserve - Life of Defiance

Artist: Call To Preserve
Album: Life of Defiance
Release Date: 6/8/10
Label: Facedown Records

With the emergence of metalcore, it is getting harder and harder to find good straight up hardcore bands. With that said, I was very excited to find one of those bands, Call To Preserve, were releasing a new album this June. I have been a fan of Call To Preserve's prior work, Unsinkable and From Isolation, so I have had high hopes for this album since hearing that they were recording. Life Of Defiance is both very similar to their past work, yet a bit different. It also has a very old school hardcore edge to it.

Whether it is the speedy punk drumming of "The Weight," "Thin Skin" and "Holding Embers" or the abundance of gang vocals used throughout the album, the reason they make the album work so well is the way they integrate their prior sound with the new. Some examples of this are found on tracks such as "Functionary," "Desoto" and "Across The Aisle."

"Across The Aisle," which features guest vocals by Joe Musten of Advent, is by far the heaviest song on Life Of Defiance. It, along with "Lost At Sea" are also the shortest tracks on the album, both clocking in at around 1:30. In my opinion, "Last Look Back" is both the strongest track on the album, as well as being the ideal pick for the closer with the way that it builds into quite an epic ending. A very nice surprise from a hardcore band.

Rating: 8/10 I like the way Call To Preserve took a look at the past to add some flavor to their sound. They were able to maintain their identity, while trying new things. The anticipation was worth it and I was not let down. Life Of Defiance is a very good hardcore album.

Reviewed by Matthew Alexander

Tracklisting:

1. Life of Defiance
2. Drawing Lines On All Sides
3. Empty Promises
4. The Weight
5. Functionary
6. Desoto
7. Thin Skin
8. Across The Aisle
9. Holding Embers
10. Lost At Sea
11. Last Look Back

(Buy Here)