We are the New Black

Blackhole
Dead Hearts
Koch Records, released October 28, 2009

We're serious as a heart attack. Fo' sho'. From the third member of the Carter clan (the other two brothers belong to hardcore wunderkinds Gallows), comes another more than decent hardcore album. Five guys making really good, screamy music. They know a thing or two about writing a breakdown but there isn't a trace bro dude bull-headedness. It's a nice starting place for a young band. The songs show just the right amount of brutality, without consciously focusing on odd time signatures or worrying about writing a nine minute opus, as is often the downfall of bands of their ilk. Lyrically, they could step it up a notch. Most songs are pretty straightforward emotional songs about isolation, self-destruction and a lack of giving a fuck, plus the obligatory "I hate/don't believe in God" tune. There is enough metaphor and thoughtfulness, though, to see where the lyrics could develop as the band ages and gains some experience. In the same vain, the music is pretty much by the books hardcore, but the quiet filler at the end of "We are the Dead Hearts" shows promise that Blackhole could fill out that sound and perhaps produce some nice psychedelic metal/hardcore. I would hope that this band would continue to develop and explore their sound and follow in the steps of, say, the Deftones. After all, Adrenaline is basically a rap-rock album, but shows what angry young men can achieve when they properly focus their anguish. Hopefully, their older brothers in Gallows will show them the way, so they can give us a sophomore effort that is worthy of the high standards they set with Dead Hearts. You'll probably have to special order this one, kiddies. Hit up your local record shop and ask them to get it for you. For fans of Gallows, Refused.