With Honor - This Is Our Revenge (11 tracks) +Album Reviews

Powerful

Patrick Stott | Rolleston, Canterbury, New Zealand | 01/11/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Dismissing With Honor as just another Straight Edge Hardcore band would be a mistake. Their sound is straight from the old school and their message takes precedence over image. Besides, there's very little on `This Is Our Revenge' which could be considered typical Straight Edge anyway.

Musically, there's nothing here which hasn't been done thousands of times before, but damn it, these guys are tight, and well-performed Hardcore is as powerful now as it has ever been. The band aren't afraid to experiment a little either, something which doesn't often happen in this genre. The guitars on "Bottoms Up" have an almost Metal tuning, and the song is reminiscent of Poison Idea. Furthermore, the acoustic introduction to "You Always Said" is a nice touch of subtlety.

Vocalist Todd Mackey is turbo charged fury personified but he does have a few variations he can pull out. He's not just a one-dimensional shouter, actually being able to hold a tune or lighten the mood when needed, and he performs a moody spoken section on "Plot Two" to great effect. "20 Strong", a lighthearted song about touring, is more tuneful, sung in almost a So-Cal Punk vein. Almost...

The lyrics are quite a change from the genre's norm, for once not targetting the "evils" of drugs, drink and meat, or wittering on about unity and "the scene". Mackey's message seems to be about how modern life is detached from reality, with messed up priorities making people more concerned with the trivial than the important, but the lyrics are such that the ultimate interpretation is up to the listener.

This isn't going to be to everyone's liking, but it's not meant to be. Bands like this make music for themselves and their close-knit fans without compromise, and if you don't like it, that's your problem."

Don't get me wrong...

Patrick Stott | 10/22/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I like this record. A lot actually. Very posi. Very Fast melodic hardcore. But what's with the melodic vocals this time around? Did the man (Victory Records) get to you and and ask you to soften up so that maybe they could sell more records? I hate when labels do that.

THis could have been a 5 star cd if it had a lot of the same intensity "heart means everything" did."

This is Mic's Revenge!

M. C Wright | Indianapolis, IN USofA | 07/18/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Dood, so I might have had my doubts, but this owns, I can't really see them changing thier sound (to be more mainstream, what a laugh! Yeah With Honor is going to the biggest band ever!) all that much. I guess you part time edge kids just can't handle a band that takes away a few sing alongs and mosh parts with thier new album, boo hoo! Anyways, this is a great melodic hardcore album, honestly it doesn't sound watered down at all, I hear Good Riddance, some Rise Against and such but at thier hardest. Oddly enough the first song reminds me of Propaghandi (his voice kinda sounds like Hannah fool!) but I digress. This is good my friend, your mosh pit friends with thier lame-o army hats (what the hell are those called?) might not agree, but they only buy cd's to practice thier mosh moves to anyways, this is for kids like you and I who enjoy music (on a higher plan brotha!)!"

HME It's Not, But There's Definitely A Lot To Like

LeftManOut | TheCityThatNeverSleeps, FL | 02/06/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"With their newest offering, "This Is Our Revenge", With Honor have definitely stepped up their craft. Yes it's a lot more melodic than "Heart Means Everything", and yes it's extremely catchy, but in the end, does that make it bad? Of course not. In fact there's plenty about this record that will have you singing along and just having a good time like hardcore is meant to do. With Honor also brings a positive message along with their music, which given the current state of hardcore/metal, is very refreshing. Although I was skeptical about their move to Victory Records (a label which has a nact of altering a band's sound and marketing them entirely the wrong way), I was pleasantly surprised when I listened to "This Is Our Revenge." And in the end that's what matters.

For purpose of honesty, I must tell you that "This Is Our Revenge" is not nearly as aggressive as its predecessor. Anyone who believes otherwise should simply listen and compare the two. However just because it's not full on aggression and breakdowns doesn't mean it's not good. With Honor definitely knows what it means to make good music. There's a lot of hints of Comeback Kid in here (go figure, CBK is also on the active Victory roster) and at times it can get somewhat annoying, but overall the record does a great job incorporating the listener into its positive message. That's probably my favorite aspect of the album. Finally I'm hearing songs about real things, about struggles and about hope and faith, and knowing that within yourself you can conquer all your demons. Makes most of the emo lyrics abundant in hardcore today look kind of lame in comparison. Perhaps my favorite line on the cd comes from "Elevens" where we are enlightened with "I still believe that faith can move the mountains." There's also no shortage of good material here, particularly highlights like "Elevens", "Closets" and "Small Dreams."

"This Is Our Revenge" is a welcomed addition is such a stale emo/hardcore/metal/posthardcore/whatever music scene which is simply retreading ideas over and over. I love listening to this cd and that's a great accomplishment for the band and the album. Don't be turned off because it's not "Heart Means Everything". This record deserves just as much attention and listening as the previous effort, and it's just as enjoyable. My hat goes off to With Honor for surprising my with a sleeper hit this year. If you're looking for great music with a positive message, and an album that you will be pleased with every time you listen, "This Is Our Revenge" is for you."

Different, but don't just push it away

Brian | Chino, CA | 04/20/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Many kids who are in the scene have a distinct disliking of what Victory does to bands (CBK comes to mind), but the latest release of With Honor should be an exception to this rule. Yes, most people consider their old EPs and Heart Means Everything to be classics in the modern hardcore scene but they shouldn't frown on This Is Our Revenge. Whereas the band does take on a far more melodic rhythm than on their previous albums, and making similarities between them and the numerous melodic hardcore acts of the mid-90s (Good Riddance, Kid Dynamite, think Jade Tree) wouldn't be wrong, I don't feel that they have completely lost their edge. With Honor are merely just showing what else they can do and are trying to change things up in a scene that is becoming very large but quite stagnant at the moment. Check out the songs Plot Two and Closets"

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CD Details

CD Reviews

	With Honor This Is Our Revenge Genres: Alternative Rock, Pop, Rock, Metal Track Listings (11) - Disc #1 Like Trumpets Plot Two Elevens Up And Out Closets Bottoms Up 20 Strong You Always Said A New War Small Dreams In A Bottle
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