RSS Feed


ADEPT
Silence The World

Panic & Action (2013)
Rating: 8/10

Swedish post-hardcore quintet Adept have returned with their third full-length release. While it seems post-hardcore and post-metalcore are tags thrown around a lot in recent years, it’s hard to pin down exactly what it means. In the case of Adept, it means brutal hardcore riffs undergirding a mix of melody and power to create the sonic tapestry that is Silence The World. This hybrid hellspawn brings to mind the inventiveness of Shai Hulud, the raw power of For Today and, at times, the melodic sensibilities of New Found Glory.

To understand the majesty of the Adept sound, check out ‘Friends That Used To Be’. This track opens with a hardcore intro that quickly changes into what could be a pop riff if the band’s playing wasn’t so damn heavy. With the verse comes hardcore vocals, leading into a chorus of melodic guitars that are reminiscent of the best of Further Seems Forever, and a clear melodic lead vocal. From here Adept returns to the sounds of classic hardcore.

This equation is fairly consistent through the course of Silence The World. A mix of styles keeps the album moving, and ensures it doesn’t grow stale. ‘Means To An End (The Greatest Betrayer)’ mixes Snapcase-style hardcore with death metal vocals and Shai Hulud swirling guitars, even adding some pop punk melodic vocals. Singer Robert Lyung has obviously matured in his approach, spending more time in the rough, metalcore style vocals than on previous releases, but his varied styles are Adept’s ace in the hole, bringing depth to songs that could otherwise be written off as too repetitive at times.

‘Secrets’ shows Lyung using a variety of vocal styles – spoken word, melodic refrains, death metal growls and metalcore shrieks sit side by side, and it’s easy to see this gent fronting almost any brand of heavy rock band. ‘The Ocean Grave’ shows a similar range of vocal styles, all set to impressive hardcore riffing. Often it’s the addition of Lyung’s melodic style that tames the insanity of Adept’s music, making it rise above the myriad of bands falling under the post-hardcore descriptor. The melodic guitar break at the end of this song is also a pleasant surprise amid the power of the furious songs presented here.

There are a lot of excellent tracks on Silence The World. ‘The Toughest Kids’ and ‘Aftermath’ are album highlights that showcase the band’s strength. While Adept has created a sound immersed in punishing hardcore power, the band is not afraid to step outside the cage to grab sounds from punk, metal and even a hint of prog at times to make a sound that’s fresh.

The more I listen to Silence The World the more it grows on me. Adept have created songs that are steeped in hardcore tradition, yet reach beyond to create something that won’t quickly grow old. This is what post-hardcore is supposed to sound like.

Jim McDonald

<< Back to Album & EP Reviews



Related Posts via Categories
Share