Exit Ten: Remember the Day
Wednesday, 25 Jun 2008 12:08
Exit Ten: Heavier than punk, yet sensitive
Deepburn / Pinnacle Records, out now.
In a nutshell…
Indulgent pining smothered in kick drum
What's it all about?
This is Exit Ten's debut album following their self-titled EP release in 2004. Emerging as a punk covers band on the Reading scene in 2000 the group has gradually narrowed its scope on the effervescent genre that is metalcore. Heavier than punk, yet sensitive, the sound is peppered with driven guitars on the brink of being 'unacceptable' and plenty of the now ordinary double bass pedal – the staple of any post-hardcore metal.
Who's it by?
Exit Ten grew up musically in Reading. A straight four-piece doing punk and metal covers. Brothers Chris, James and Stuart Steele, on drums, bass and guitar respectively were joined by guitarist Joe Ward. They slowly edged toward heavier things and by 2003 were tinkering with some of their own material.
Meanwhile, over in Bracknell, a struggling indie-funk band's lead signer was on the hunt for a new challenge. Ant Salon hadn't hit the big-time leaving Ryan Redman in a deuce of a funk. He joined Exit Ten in the winter of 2003. And the rest, as they say, is history.
The band played the NME stage at V Festival in 2004. They supported Avenged Sevenfold (not to be confused with 36 Crazyfists) in 2005. By June 2006 they were playing second fiddle to the Deftones. And a year later they were headlining their own tour, dubbed The Great Rebellion Tour 2007.
As an example…
"Eyes fixed on what you're doing/His voice vanished in to the dark" – Out of Sight
"I can't hold back tears in my eyes/I see the red lines scars forever remind" – Fine Night
"Your eyes succumb blinded at once/Still yet to learn be yourself don't be led" – Reveal Yourself
Likelihood of a trip to the Grammys
In a nutshell, no. The band has tapped into a dark vein that rests just below the surface of British pop culture. Exit Ten will no doubt receive plenty of international recognition, but it won't come from America. I'm thinking more along the lines of Scandinavia.
What the others say
"There is something richly enticing about this debut." – Kerrang!
"The buzz about this lot makes nothing but sense… Fresh and honest." – Subba Cultcha
"The next British success story? Serious contenders." – Guitarist
So is it any good?
I hate to be a stick in the mud, but I don't think it is.
The guitar is over-driven so neatly it couldn't possibly capture any sense of degeneration.
The drum kicks are ten-a-penny, but don't offer any real drive to the music. They are a souped up metronome, almost hypnotic and rarely invigorating.
The brooding melodies have no discordance, making them a little flaccid, and there is nothing to throw you off guard. In fact there is nothing to even ask politely if it would be alright to possibly throw you off guard.
And despite all the bleeding-eyes talk, the lyricist doesn't walk the walk. He's self-indulgent and at times verges on soppy.
4/10
Martin Fell
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