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Weirdly enough, one of the most exciting bands in heavy metal stems from the same man behind one of its most maligned. Until 2014, Caleb Shomo was best known as the lead singer in Attack Attack!, and was a genuine laughing stock in the metal world for giving the world Crabcore. The internet meme based around a seconds long clip from one of the band’s videos massively overtook the popularity of the actual band but all was not well in the Attack Attack! camp for a different, far more serious reason. While the band were getting more and more popular, Shomo was constantly dealing with clinical depression that on more than one occasion left him suicidal, and he left the band in late 2012 for the sake of his health and safety.
Fortunately, he’d already been working on some Beartooth material, and in an attempt to reconnect with music as something he loved, rather than his job, he put together a full line-up for Beartooth with members of fellow Columbians My Ticket Home. By January 2013, Shomo had put his first batch of Beartooth songs on the internet and announced their first run of live shows in the Midwest. By June they were signed to Red Bull Records and their debut album “Disgusting”, was released in June 2014, followed by extensive touring, most notably on the 2014 Warped Tour and then in the United Kingdom on the 2015 Kerrang! Tour. Shomo has managed to gain something that has evaded many in the world of rock and roll, and that’s a second chance. Rather than be written off as a novelty act, he formed one of the most exciting acts in heavy metal and earned the respect of the very same people who derided him in Attack Attack!, and for that, Beartooth come highly recommended.
After the formation of the band in 2000, they worked through a number of line up changes before settling on a unit that they were content and confident with as a band. This happened to include an early fan who found their advertisement for a bass guitarist on an internet message board. By 2002 the band had signed to Victory Records and worked out a complete line up. Silverstein take influence from Green Day, The Promise Ring, Orchid, Gorilla Biscuits and more.
Their album releases have all been moderate commercial successes, their first LP 'When Broken Is Easily Fixed' entered the US Billboard Independent charts at #45 which was considered a great achievement for the new band. The follow-up 'Discovering The Waterfront' rocketed up the same chart to #3 and debuted at #34 on the US Billboard chart. The band continued on headline tours as well as supporting a number of artists on the road to promote their material and their name. The next release was 'Arrivals & Departures' which topped the independent charts and peaked at #25 on the US album charts, this remains their highest chart position to date.
In 2012 the band released an album entitled 'Short Songs' which featured a side of original material and a side of cover versions playing homage to some of their greatest inspirations such as The Promise Ring, Gob and Dead Kennedys. The band have always been known for an intense touring schedule to promote their latest releases, in 2014 they spent the majority of the summer on the road with stops at a number of festivals.
With their debut full-length released this year, Beartooth look set to establish themselves in the hardcore scene with a raw, punk-edged record that straddles the middle ground between Every Time I Die's rowdy swagger and A Day to Remember's metallic tour de force. What started as an alternative creative outlet for Attack Attack!'s Caleb Shomo soon grew into his main pursuit, offering an entirely different beast to his former band. Their music is a fun new take on a scene that is heavily inundated with bands which they combine with an energetic, wild live show.
Their performance in support of Memphis May Fire on the Unconditional Tour this year displayed their ability to offer a visceral, energetic live show, with their songs translating well to a live setting. It was a powerful performance, with songs like "Beaten in Lips" setting the crowd into a frenzy of flailing limbs and screams in unison with Caleb. Their breakdowns are heavy and choruses anthemic and melodic, making a perfect combination for a quality hardcore act. WIth their album recently released, the band seem eager to perform these new songs and spread passion for their music through riveting live performances, making them definitely worthwhile checking out.
osenn22
Silverstein has their sound down to a formula. There is little fluctuation in their 10 + year spanning career, but that is okay. They know where their strong suits lie and have perfected it to the nth degree. That's not to say they have fallen into complacency. Rather they have developed a confidence and intimate understanding of the direction they want to take. Listening to their first album "When Broken Is Easily Fixed" to their latest "This is How the Wind Shifts" it is easy to detect that much of their ethos and style remains in tact; however a leap in production and overall "tightness" as a band can just as easily be detected.
They are group known for their work ethic and have frequented the touring circuit since their formation. This is apparent in the professionalism and precision of their live shows. It is amazing to see the band at work. Their coordination is unmatched as well as the amount of emotional output they invest in their performance.
Silverstein was one of the first bands I saw live and to tell the truth I was a bit nervous to go. I thought I would get mangled in one of the mosh pits that so frequently erupts at their shows. I wasn't too far from being wrong. As they opened with "Smashed In to Pieces" the crowd turned into a frenzy blur, which persisted through out the show and ended with my brother passing out after "My Heart Bleeds No More" probably due to over-exhaustion, but it could have also been because he got punched in the face.
Next time I saw them the show was just as frenetic if not more. It was almost impossible to keep track of all that was going on in the venue. I was absolutely mesmerized by the sheer dexterity of drummer Paul Koehler. It was as if he was programmed before each show never to miss a beat. But my concentration on one member soon shifted to the next as the show progressed. It was hard to ignore the bass player Billy especially when he was playing his instrument while crowding surfing among the hord of people and Shane is without a doubt one of the best frontmen in the post hardcore scene.
Though Silverstein stays true to their post-hardcore/emo roots their setlist is peppered with a few pop songs such as "Still Dreaming" and even unexpected covers like a screamo rendition of the Beatles' "Help". Maybe if you pay close enough attention you might even catch one of their 6 second covers from "Short Songs".
wjmcc
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